Systems for implementing a loyalty program

ABSTRACT

A system for implementing a loyalty program includes a personal terminal, an interaction terminal, and a loyalty module. The personal terminal may be associated with a user. The interaction terminal may be associated with a product or service. The interaction terminal and the personal terminal may be operable to establish a communication when in proximity of each other. The loyalty module may be operable to provide a benefit to the user in response to the communication. The benefit may be provided without regard to whether the user obtained or purchased the product or service.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application generally relates to incentive programs, and moreparticularly relates to systems and methods for implementing a loyaltyprogram.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The immediate consumption channel in the food and beverage industrytypically includes food and beverages from vending equipment such asvending machines, or host equipment such as fountain machines andcoolers. In general, food and beverages that are immediately availableto a consumer and are ready to eat or drink can be considered part ofthe immediate consumption channel.

Broadly marketing to the immediate consumption channel can bechallenging. The immediate consumption channel is fragmented by aplethora of equipment manufacturers, equipment owners and operators, andequipment makes and models having varied internal electrical andsoftware configurations. Therefore, implementing new marketingopportunities can be high risk. Extensive engineering efforts may berequired to address both newer equipment and older equipment that maynot conform with industry standards. Operators may require newtechnology to work on all makes and models of equipment, but becausenon-industry-standard equipment may not support new technology, theintroduction of the new technology may be stalled or may failcompletely.

Engineering technology that addresses the entire existing base ofequipment at a cost that enables new technology to be adopted across theindustry may be difficult. Within the existing base of equipment, lessthan half of existing vending machines support current industrystandards, and within the subset that do, many of these machines may notbe located in places that generate sufficient revenue to justifyequipping the machines with, for example, electronics aimed at drivingmore sales.

Further, vending and host equipment platforms can vary widely. Forexample, vending machines may be unattended, with the consumer selectingand paying for the product directly at the machine. Coolers may beaccessible to the consumer in an attended environment, with the consumerselecting the product from the cooler and paying for the product at, forexample, a cash register. Fountain equipment may be operated by anattendant or may be self-serve and may typically require the consumer topay for the beverage separately. Though all examples of equipment in theimmediate consumption channel, the diverse nature of the equipment andthe diverse nature of the consumer's interaction with the equipment cancomplicate the implementation of broad marketing opportunities directedat the immediate consumption channel as a whole.

Consumer confidence may be affected by money acceptance issues and theabsence of loyalty and other types of rewards. These and other issuesmay negatively impact the consumer's experience, and therefore theconsumer's loyalty at the equipment. Alternatives to currency, such ascashless payment alternatives, have been introduced in the industry.However, the cost of associated cashless terminal hardware, the limitedpool of compatible equipment, and recurring fees and transaction costsassociated with processing cashless payments may stall the adoption ofsuch technology.

Consumers and operators may want an interaction experience that isavailable on all platforms of vending and host equipment. Operators maywant to provide the consumer with an experience that breeds consumerloyalty, and consumers may want to be rewarded for their loyalty.Additionally, both operators and consumers may want cashless paymentoptions at the equipment. Operators may also want to create marketingcampaigns directed at the immediate consumption channel that can driveimmediate consumption sales. Therefore, a need exists in the industryfor the systems and methods to address these drawbacks.

A further need exists for systems and methods for implementing a loyaltyprogram.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system for implementing a loyalty program includes a personalterminal, an interaction terminal, and a loyalty module. The personalterminal may be associated with a user. The interaction terminal may beassociated with a product or service. The interaction terminal and thepersonal terminal may be operable to establish a communication when inproximity of each other. The loyalty module may be operable to provide abenefit to the user in response to the communication. The benefit may beprovided without regard to whether the user purchased the product orservice.

The personal terminal may comprise an RFID reader and the interactionterminal may comprise an RFID tag. The personal terminal may communicatewith the interaction terminal using infrared signals. The product may bea beverage. The benefit may include at least one of the following: aloyalty point, a monetary value, and a credit toward at least a portionof a product or a service.

The personal terminal and the interaction terminal may be operable tocommunicate with each other when the user brings the personal terminalwithin proximity of the interaction terminal.

The system may also include a loyalty server. The loyalty server mayinclude an account associated with the user. The loyalty module may beoperable to store an indication of the benefit in the account of theuser. The loyalty server may further include a user interface. The userinterface may be operable to receive an instruction to redeem thebenefit from the user. The personal terminal may be operable tocommunicate with the loyalty server over a network.

The loyalty module may be further operable to vary the benefit based ona pre-defined criteria. The pre-defined criteria may be at least one ofthe following: time, location, product, brand, frequency, quantity, orprice.

In embodiments, a system for implementing a loyalty program may includea personal terminal, an interaction terminal, and a loyalty module. Thepersonal terminal may be associated with a user. The interactionterminal may be associated with a product device operable to provide aproduct or service. The interaction terminal and the personal terminalmay be operable to establish a communication when in proximity of eachother. The loyalty module may be operable to provide a benefit to theuser in response to the communication. The benefit may be providedwithout regard to whether the product device facilitated access to theproduct or service.

The product device may include one of the following: a vending machine,a product dispenser, a fountain machine, or a cooler. The loyalty modulemay be further operable to authorize a transaction at the productdevice.

In embodiments, a system for implementing a loyalty program may includea personal terminal, an interaction terminal, and a loyalty module. Thepersonal terminal may be associated with a user. The interactionterminal may be associated with a transaction device. The transactiondevice may be operable to receive payment for a product or service. Theinteraction terminal and the personal terminal may be operable toestablish a communication when in proximity of each other. The loyaltymodule may be operable to provide a benefit to the user in response tothe communication. The benefit may be provided without regard to whetherthe transaction device received payment for the product or service.

The transaction device may include one of the following: a vendingmachine, cash register, a credit card machine, a debit card machine, acash acceptance device, a cash transaction device, a cashlesstransaction device, an automatic teller machine, a point-of-saleterminal, a computer system, a website, or a property management system.The loyalty module may be further operable to transmit a paymentinstruction to the transaction device. The payment instruction mayinclude at least one of the following: a debit from an accrued loyaltyreward balance, a debit from a pre-paid cash balance, a credit cardnumber, or a debit card number.

In embodiments, a system may include a first interaction terminal, asecond interaction terminal, a personal terminal, and a loyalty module.The first interaction terminal may be mounted to a first vendingmachine. The second interaction terminal may be operationally integratedwith a second vending machine. The personal terminal may be provided toa user. The personal terminal and the first interaction terminal mayestablish a first communication when in proximity of each other. Thepersonal terminal and the second interaction terminal may establish asecond communication when in proximity of each other. The loyalty modulemay be operable to provide a benefit to the user in response to thefirst communication or the second communication.

The loyalty module may be further operable to transmit a paymentinstruction to the second vending machine via the second interactionterminal.

The system may further include a loyalty server. The loyalty server mayinclude an account associated with the user. The loyalty module may befurther operable to store an indication of the benefit in the account ofthe user. The loyalty server may further include a user interface. Theuser interface may be operable to receive an instruction to redeem thebenefit from the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present disclosure may be better understood with reference to thefollowing figures. Matching reference numerals designate correspondingparts throughout the figures, and components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system forimplementing a loyalty network.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a personal terminal.

FIGS. 3-12 illustrate embodiments of a personal terminal used in variousapplications in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a personal terminal associated witha card in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a personalterminal adapted for passive mode applications in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a personalterminal adapted for active mode applications in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a personalterminal adapted for active mode applications in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a personalterminal adapted to produce light in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a power sourceof the personal terminal in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 19 illustrates an embodiment of an interaction terminal associatedwith a lid in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment of an interaction terminal associatedwith packaging materials of a product in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates an embodiment of an interaction terminal associatedwith a tamper resistant seal of a product in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates a block diagram of embodiment of an interactionterminal adapted to operate in a passive mode in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an interactionterminal adapted to integrate with vending equipment in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an interactionterminal adapted to integrate with host equipment in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 25 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a personalterminal interface of the interaction terminal in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 26 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a displayinterface of the interaction terminal in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 27 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a vendingequipment interface of the interaction terminal in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 28 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a host equipmentinterface of the interaction terminal in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 29 illustrates a block diagram of a power source of the interactionterminal in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 30 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a passive modepersonal terminal interacting with an interaction terminal in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 31 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a passive modepersonal terminal interacting with an interaction terminal in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 32 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of an active modepersonal terminal interacting with an interaction terminal and anintermediate device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 33 is a flow diagram illustrating an active mode personal terminalinteracting with an interaction terminal and an intermediate device inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 34 is a flow diagram illustrating an active mode personal terminalinteracting with an interaction terminal and a data processing resourcein accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 35 is a flow diagram illustrating an active mode personal terminaloperationally coupled to a wireless device, and interacting with aninteraction terminal and a data processing resource in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 36 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of performing atransaction using a personal terminal, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 37 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a personalterminal to obtain a loyalty reward, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 38 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a personalterminal having a stored value balance to pay for products or services,in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 39 is a flow diagram of a method of using a personal terminal topurchase a product or service, the personal terminal having a storedvalue balance and an extended credit feature, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 40 is a flow diagram of a method of lighting a personal terminal toa predefined color, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 41 is a flow diagram of a method of using touch points of loyaltyto a reward consumer, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 42 is a flow diagram of a method of using touch points of loyaltyto enhance trademark prominence, reward consumers, and increaseimmediate consumption sales across a portfolio of products, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Described below are embodiments of systems and methods for implementinga loyalty program, such as system 10 shown in FIG. 1. Embodiments of asystem can reward a user for interacting with a product, service, brand,or entity, and may reward the user without receiving a payment. Forexample, an embodiment of the system may encourage loyalty to aparticular product by rewarding a user for interacting with the product,equipment that provides the product or accepts payment for the product,or objects promoting the product, such as advertisements and displays.Such embodiments may reward the user regardless of whether the useractually obtains or purchases the product. Furthermore, an embodiment ofthe system may encourage loyalty to a particular brand, company, orother entity, by rewarding a user for interacting with products orequipment associated with the brand, company, or entity, or with objectspromoting the brand, company, or entity. Such a system may reward theuser regardless of whether the user actually obtains or purchasesproducts or services associated with the brand, company, or entity.

Embodiments of a system, such as 10, also known as a loyalty programmanagement system, may include at least one personal terminal, such as12, and at least one interaction terminal, such as 14. The personalterminal may be associated with a user, such as 16, and the interactionterminal may be associated with a product, such as 18, a piece ofequipment, such as 20, or with a promotional object, such as 22. When aninteraction occurs between the user 16 and the product 18, equipment 20,or promotional object 22, the personal terminal 12 and the interactionterminal 14 may communicate with each other. In embodiments, forexample, the personal terminal 12 and the interaction terminal 14 maycommunicate via radio-frequency signals or infrared signals, althoughother configurations are possible as described below. A benefit may beprovided to the user 16, such as a loyalty point that rewards the user16 for interacting with the product 18 or the equipment 20. The user 16may redeem the benefit at the equipment 20, or through a loyalty server,such as 24, among others.

More specifically, the personal terminal 12 may be sized and shaped tobe transported by or with the user 16. Thus, the personal terminal 12may be accessible when the user 16 is in proximity of the product 18,equipment 20, or promotional object 22. In some embodiments, thepersonal terminal 12 may be a fob-type device as described below withreference to FIGS. 2-14. The fob-type device may be carried by the user16 or may be coupled to an article associated with the user 16, such asclothing, a key chain, a wireless phone, an identification badge or anyother device, card, pass, or badge associated with the user.

The interaction terminal 14 may be associated with the product 18, suchas disposable packaging of a product. For example, the product 18 may bea beverage. The terms “product”, “good”, and “beverage” may be usedinterchangeably throughout this disclosure. The interaction terminal 14may also be associated with or operationally integrated with equipment20. For example, in some cases the interaction terminal 14 may be a tag,such as an RFID tag or an IR tag, that is affixed or mounted to theequipment. In other cases, the interaction terminal 14 may be integratedwith the equipment such that the interaction terminal 14 and theequipment 20 can communicate with each other via, for example,radio-frequency or infrared signals. The equipment 20 may be any devicethat provides a product. For example, the product may be a beverage, andthe equipment 20 may be product device such as a vending machine, adispenser, a cooler, or a fountain machine, as described below. Theequipment 20 may also be any device that accepts payment for a product.For example, the equipment 20 may be a transaction device such as avending machine, a cash register, a credit card machine, a debit cardmachine, a cash acceptance device, a cash transaction device, a cashlesstransaction device, an automatic teller machine, a point-of-saleterminal, a website, or a property management system, as describedbelow. The interaction terminal 14 may also be associated with apromotional object 22. The promotional object 22 may be associated witha particular good or service, brand, company, or other entity. Examplesof promotional objects 22 include, for example, a poster, anadvertisement, a kiosk, or a display.

When an interaction occurs between the user 16 and the product 18,equipment 20, or promotional object 22, the personal terminal 12 and theinteraction terminal 14 may communicate with each other. In someembodiments, the interaction terminal 14 may be mounted to, for example,an exterior of the product 18, so the personal terminal 12 and theinteraction terminal 14 may communicate when the user 16 is in proximityof the product 18. The interaction terminal 14 may also be mounted to,for example, an interior of the product 18, so that the personalterminal 12 and the interaction terminal 14 may communicate when theproduct 18 is opened. For example, the product 18 may be a bottle, andthe interaction terminal 14 may be mounted to an interior of a lid ofthe bottle. Thus, the system 10 may be adapted to provide a benefit tothe user 16 for interacting with the product 18, without regard towhether the user 16 has paid for the product 18.

In other embodiments, the interaction terminal 14 may be associated withor otherwise mounted to equipment 20 configured for providing a product,so that the personal terminal 12 and the interaction terminal 14 maycommunicate with each other when the user 16 is in proximity to receivethe product from the equipment 20. For example, the interaction terminal14 may be associated with or otherwise mounted to a vending machine, aproduct dispenser, a fountain machine, or a cooler, among others. Forthe purposes of this disclosure, these pieces of equipment 20 may alsobe referred to as dispensing devices. The interaction terminal 14 mayalso be operationally integrated with such equipment 20, so that thepersonal terminal 12 and equipment 20 may communicate via theinteraction terminal 14. For example, the equipment 20 may indicate tothe personal terminal 12 that the product has been provided to the user16. Thus, the system 10 may be adapted to provide the user 16 with abenefit for receiving the product, and the system 10 may withholdproviding the benefit until after the product is actually provided. Asanother example, the personal terminal 12 may indicate to the equipment20 that the user 16 is not authorized to receive a particular product orto receive a product at a particular time of day. Thus, the system 10may be adapted to prevent or otherwise limit the equipment 20 fromproviding the product based at least in part on certain rules stored onor transmitted through the personal terminal 12.

In still other embodiments, the interaction terminal 14 may be mountedto or otherwise associated with equipment 20 that accepts payment aproduct, so that the personal terminal 12 and the interaction terminal14 may communicate when the user 16 is in proximity to purchase theproduct. For example, the interaction terminal 14 may be mounted on avending machine, a cash register, a credit card machine, a debit cardmachine, a cash acceptance device, a cash transaction device, a cashlesstransaction device, an automatic teller machine, a point-of-saleterminal, a computer system, a website, or a property management system.among others. For the purposes of this disclosure, these pieces ofequipment 20 may also be referred to as transaction devices. Theinteraction terminal 14 may also be operationally integrated with suchequipment 20, so that the personal terminal 12 and the equipment 20 maycommunicate through the interaction terminal 14. For example, theequipment 20 may indicate to the personal terminal 12 that payment hasbeen received. Thus, the system 10 may be adapted to provide the user 16with the benefit for purchasing the product, and the system 10 maywithhold providing the benefit to the user 16 until after the paymenthas been received. As another example, the personal terminal 12 maytransmit an indication of payment to the equipment 20. Thus, the system10 may be adapted to permit the user 16 to perform cashlesstransactions, as described below.

In fact, the interaction terminal 14 may be associated with or otherwisemounted to a promotional object 22. For example, the interactionterminal 14 may be mounted to any object 22 associated with a particularproduct, service, brand, or entity, in which case the personal terminal12 and the interaction terminal 14 may communicate when the user 16interacts with the product, service, brand, or entity. Thus, the system10 may be adapted to provide the benefit to the user 16 for interactingwith the product, service, brand, or entity, regardless of whether theuser 16 obtains or purchases the product or service, or a product orservice associated with the brand or entity.

The personal terminal 12 may include one or more of a processor 26, amemory 28, an interaction terminal interface 30, an intermediate deviceinterface 32, a network interface 34, and a power source 36. The memory28 may store a loyalty management engine or module 38, such as a set ofinstructions that can be executed by the processor 26. An example set ofinstructions can be a set of computer-executable instructions such as aloyalty management module or engine stored on a computer-readablemedium. The interaction terminal interface 30 may permit communicationbetween the personal terminal 12 and the interaction terminal 14. Theintermediate device interface 32 may permit communication between thepersonal terminal 12 and one or more intermediate devices 40, such as apersonal computer or a cellular phone, among others. Such intermediatedevices 40 may be in communication with a network 42, and therefore thepersonal terminal 12 may communicate with the network 42 through theintermediate device 40. Further, the network interface 34 may permitcommunication between the personal terminal 12 and a network 42 withoutthe use of the intermediate device 40. The power source 36 may power oneor more components of the personal terminal 12. The power source 36 maybe, for example, a rechargeable battery such as a solar battery, amongothers. Each of these components is described in greater detail below.

Similarly, the interaction terminal 14 may include one or more of aprocessor 44, a memory 46, a personal terminal interface 48, anequipment interface 50, a network interface 52, and a power source 54.The memory 46 may store a loyalty management engine or module 56, or aset of instructions, that can be executed by the processor 44. Anexample set of instructions can be a set of computer-executableinstructions such as a loyalty management engine or module stored on acomputer-readable medium. The personal terminal interface 48 may permitcommunication between the interaction terminal 14 and the personalterminal 12. The equipment interface 50 may permit communication betweenthe interaction terminal 12 and the equipment 20, such as a vendingmachine or a credit-card terminal, among others. The network interface52 may permit communication with the network 42. The power source 54 maypower one or more components of the interaction terminal 14. Each ofthese components is described in greater detail below.

It should be understood that the components of the terminals 12, 14described above are functional components, and in constructing theterminals 12, 14 any suitable physical configuration can be used.Further, one or more of the functional components may be omitted fromthe personal terminal 12 or the interaction terminal 14 in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. For example, in embodiments inwhich the personal terminal 12 is an RFID reader, the personal terminal12 may include a microcontroller that includes the processor 26 and thememory 28, and the interaction terminal interface 30 may include anantenna adapted for sending and receiving radio-frequency signals.Similarly, the interaction terminal 14 may include a microcontrollerthat includes the processor 44 and the memory 46, and the personalterminal interface 48 may include an antenna adapted for sending andreceiving radio-frequency signals.

The system 10 may also include a loyalty server 24. An example loyaltyserver 24 may include a user interface 58, a processor 60, a memory 62,and a database 64. The memory 62 may store a loyalty management engineor module 66, or a set of instructions, that can be executed by theprocessor 60. An example set of instructions can be a set ofcomputer-executable instructions such as a loyalty management module orengine stored on a computer-readable medium. The database 64 may includean account 68 associated with the user 16. The account 68 may storeinformation such as information identifying the user 16, a balance ofthe benefits, such as loyalty points, accrued by the user 16, acredit-card number of the user 16, a debit card number of the user 16,or a pre-paid cash balance supplied by the user 16, among others. Theloyalty server 24 also may communicate with the network 42, and one ormore of the personal terminal 12 and/or the interaction terminal 14. Theequipment 20 may communicate with the loyalty server 24 over a network42. The user 16 also may communicate with the loyalty server 24 throughthe user interface 58. For example, the user interface 58 may be awebsite that is available to the user 16 over the Internet or othernetwork, although other configurations are possible. The user interface58 may permit the user 16 to enter information into the loyalty server24, to update information associated with the account 68, or to checkthe balance of benefits in the account 68, among others. The userinterface 58 also may permit the user 16 to redeem the benefits, asdescribed in further detail below. However, the loyalty server 24 may beomitted in some embodiments. In such embodiments, the personal terminal12 may not be able to communicate with the network 42, and theintermediate device interface 32 and the network interface 34 may beomitted. The interaction terminal 14 also may not be able to communicatewith the network 42, and the network interface 52 of the interactionterminal 14 may be omitted.

The personal terminal 12 and the interaction terminal 14 may communicatevia, for example, one or more signals 70. The signals 70 may beradio-frequency signals, infrared signals, optical signals, or any otherelectromagnetic, magnetic, or other signals. In some embodiments, thesignals 70 may be transmitted between the interfaces 30, 48 when theterminals 12, 14 are in proximity of each other. (In such embodiments,the terminals 12, 14 may not contact each other.) In some embodiments,the signals 70 may be transmitted between the interfaces 30, 48 when theterminals 12, 14 engage or otherwise physically interact with eachother.

For example, the personal terminal 12 may include atransponder-interrogator, and the interaction terminal 14 may include atransponder. In such cases, the interaction terminal interface 30 of thepersonal terminal 12 may be a transmitter/receiver, and the personalterminal interface 48 of the interaction terminal 14 may be areceiver/transmitter. When the user 16 is, for example, in proximity ofthe product 18, equipment 20, or promotional object 22, the personalterminal 12 may transmit an interrogating signal 70A to the interactionterminal 14, and the interaction terminal 14 may respond by transmittinga responsive signal 70B to the personal terminal 12. In someembodiments, the interrogating signal 70A may power the interactionterminal 14. The configuration may also be reversed, such that theinteraction terminal 14 may include the transponder-interrogator, andthe personal terminal 12 may include the transponder.

In cases in which the signals 70 are radio-frequency signals, thepersonal terminal 12 may include an RFID reader and the interactionterminal 14 may include an RFID tag. Also, other the configurations arepossible. For example, the configuration may be reversed, meaning theinteraction terminal 14 may be the RFID reader and the personal terminal12 may be the RFID tag.

As another example, the terminals 12, 14, may communicate via opticalsignals. The personal terminal 12 may include an optical scanner, andthe interaction terminal 14 may include, for example, a bar code, or anyother optically encoded indicator. As a further example, the personalterminal 12 and the interaction terminal 14 may communicate usingmagnetic strip technology. The personal terminal 12 may include amagnetic strip reader and the interaction terminal 14 may include amagnetic strip. In these and in other cases, the processor 44, memory46, and power source 54 of the interaction terminal 14 may be omitted.Further, such configurations may be reversed.

During or after communication between the personal terminal 12 and theinteraction terminal 14, a benefit may be provided to the user 16 as areward for interacting with the product 18, equipment 20, or promotionalobject 22. A benefit can include, but is not limited to, a loyaltypoint, a monetary value, a credit toward at least a portion of a productor service, or any combination of these, among others. The benefit maybe the same for each interaction, or the benefit may vary based at leastin part on how the user 16 interacted with the product 18, equipment 20,or promotional object 22. For example, in some cases the user 16 mayreceive a benefit for being in proximity of the product 18, equipment20, or promotional object 22, while in other cases the user 16 may berequired to purchase or obtain a product from the equipment 20.

The benefit may be redeemable. For example, the benefit may be redeemedat the equipment 20 or through the user interface 58 of the loyaltyserver 24. The equipment 20 or user interface 58 may accept one or morebenefits in exchange for a product, a service, or a reduction in theprice of a product or service, among others. In some cases, the benefitmay be immediately redeemed, while in other cases the benefit may bestored for future redemption. The benefit may also be accrued with otherbenefits before redemption, in which case the benefit may be added to anaccrued benefit balance.

In some embodiments, the system 10 may include a number of interactionterminals 14 having different configurations. Some or all of theinteraction terminals 14 may be adapted to integrate or communicate withthe equipment 20. These interaction terminals 14 may have an equipmentinterface 50, and in some cases, may be adapted to perform at least someprocessing. Thus, these interaction terminals 14 may be deployed withrelatively newer or more sophisticated types of equipment, which may besuited for integrating or communicating with the interaction terminal14. These interaction terminals 14 may also be deployed with equipmentthat is located in a relatively higher traffic area or on equipment thathandles a relatively larger volume of products, as retrofitting suchequipment may be cost effective despite the cost and complexityassociated with manufacturing and deploying the interaction terminal 14.

Other interaction terminals 14 may not be adapted to integrate orcommunicate with any equipment, such as 20. These interaction terminals14 may not have an equipment interface 50, and in some cases, may not beadapted to perform a substantial amount of processing. Such interactionterminals 14 may be relatively less expensive to manufacture and deploy,due to the decreased complexity. Thus, such interaction terminals 14 maybe deployed on older or less sophisticated equipment, on equipment thatis located in a relatively lower traffic area, or on equipment thathandles a relatively low volume of products. Such interaction terminals14 may also be mounted or associated with the equipment 20 to conformthe equipment 20 to the system 10. Such interaction terminals 14 mayalso be mounted on or associated with the disposable packaging of aproduct 18, or with promotional objects 22 that may not be suited forintegrating with the interaction terminal 14, such as advertising andpromotional materials. An example of one suitable interaction terminal14 may be an RFID tag.

When the interaction terminal 14 is operable to communicate with theequipment 20, the personal terminal 12 may be operable to obtainbenefits, redeem benefits, and perform cashless transactions at theequipment 20. When the interaction terminal 14 is not operable tocommunicate with the equipment 20, but is instead merely associated withthe equipment 20, the personal terminal 12 may be operable to obtainbenefits, but may not be operable to redeem benefits or perform cashlesstransactions. Thus, the user 16 may be able to obtain benefits from abroad range of products 18, equipment 20, and promotional objects 22,and the user 16 may be able to redeem benefits or perform cashlesstransactions at equipment 20 that is integrated with an interactionterminal 14. Thus, the ability to obtain benefits may be broadlyenabled, and in cases in which integrating the equipment 20 with theinteraction terminal 14 is cost-effective, additional functionality suchas the ability to redeem benefits and to perform cashless transactionsmay be enabled.

The system 10 may process the signals 70 to determine a benefit and tostore the benefit. In some embodiments, the personal terminal 12 mayprocess the interaction. The loyalty management engine or module 38 orset of instructions stored in the memory 28 of the personal terminal 12may be configured to process the interaction, and the processor 26 ofthe personal terminal 12 may execute the loyalty management engine ormodule 38 to determine and store the benefit. In other embodiments, theloyalty server 24 may process the interaction. The loyalty managementengine or module 66 stored in the memory 62 of the loyalty server 24 maybe configured to process the interaction, and the processor 60 of theloyalty server 24 may execute the loyalty management engine or module todetermine and store the benefit. In other embodiments, both the personalterminal 12 and the loyalty server 24 may be configured to process theinteraction, and either one of the processors 26, 60 may execute thecorresponding loyalty management engine or module 38, 66 to determineand store the benefit. Alternatively, the personal terminal 12 may beconfigured to process a portion of the interaction, and the loyaltyserver 24 may be configured to process a portion of the interaction.Both processors 26, 60, may execute the associated loyalty managementengine or module 38, 66 to determine and store the benefit. For example,the personal terminal 12 may receive the signal 70 and store informationabout the transaction in the memory 38. Subsequently, the informationmay be uploaded to the loyalty server 24, where the loyalty managementengine or module 66 may further process and filter the information todetermine the benefit.

Below, the personal terminal 12 is described as being responsible forprocessing the interaction for the purpose of simplicity. However, aperson of skill will understand that other components of the system maybe responsible for such processing. For example, the loyalty managementengine or module 56 stored in the memory 46 of the interaction terminal14 may be configured to process at least a portion the interaction, andthe processor 44 of the interaction terminal 14 may execute the loyaltymanagement engine or module 56 as appropriate. The equipment 20 may alsobe adapted for at least some processing.

The loyalty management engine or module 38 may determine the samebenefit for each interaction, or the loyalty management engine or module38 may determine the benefit based at least in part on how the user 16interacted with the product 18, equipment 20, or promotional object 22.In some embodiments, the personal terminal 12 and the interactionterminal 14 may be in proximity of each other when the user 16 is nearthe product 18, equipment 20, or promotional object 22, the signal 70may be transmitted, and the loyalty management engine or module 38 mayreward the user 16 accordingly. The loyalty management engine or module38 may determine the benefit based on the mere transmission of thesignal 70, so that the user 16 can be rewarded for being in suchproximity alone. In such embodiments, the user 16 may obtain benefits,such as loyalty points, without regard to how or even whether a productwas purchased or received.

For example, when the interaction terminal 14 is associated with ormounted to the product 18, the user 16 may receive the benefit for beingnear the product 18, regardless of whether the user 16 purchases orconsumes the product 18. When the interaction terminal 14 is associatedwith or mounted to equipment 20, such as a vending machine, the user 16may receive the benefit for being near the equipment regardless ofwhether the user 16 obtains or purchases a product from the equipment.When the interaction terminal 14 is mounted to a promotional object 22associated with a particular product, service, brand, or entity, theuser 16 may be rewarded for interacting with the product, service,brand, or entity, regardless of whether the user 16 purchases or obtainsthe product or service, or products or services associated with thebrand or entity.

In other embodiments, the loyalty management engine or module 38 mayreward the user 16 for being near a particular type of product 18,equipment 20, or promotional object 22. The signal 70 may indicate theinformation about the product 18, equipment 20, or promotional object 22with which the interaction terminal 14 is associated, and the loyaltymanagement engine or module 38 may set different benefits according tothe information indicated by the signal 70. For example, the loyaltymanagement engine or module 38 may be configured to set an increasedbenefit when the signal 70 indicates the user 16 interacted with aparticular product 18, such as a new product. Such a system 10 mayencourage the user 16 to try the product 18. As another example, theloyalty management engine or module 38 may be configured to set anincreased benefit when the signal 70 indicates the user 16 interactedwith equipment 20 configured to provide a product in exchange forpayment, as opposed to equipment 20 configured to dispense a product forfree. In such embodiments, the user 16 may accrue benefits at a slowerrate, for example, from a free vending machine located in theirworkplace than from a public vending machine that accepts money.

In still other embodiments, the loyalty management engine or module 38may reward the user 16 for receiving or purchasing a product from theequipment 20. In such embodiments, the interaction terminal 14 mayinclude the equipment interface 50, which may be configured tocommunicate with the equipment 20. For example, in cases in which theequipment 20 is a vending machine, the equipment interface 50 may beconfigured to communicate with a multi-drop-bus (MDB) interface or adata exchange interface (DEX) of the vending machine, among others. Insuch cases, the signal 70 may indicate information provided to theinteraction terminal 14 by the equipment 20 through the equipmentinterface 50. For example, the signal 70 may indicate the purchase priceof a product dispensed by the equipment 20, and the loyalty managementengine or module 38 may set different benefits according to the purchaseprice. The signal 70 also may indicate an identifier that uniquelyidentifies the equipment 20, among other information.

The loyalty management engine or module 38 also may vary or limit thebenefit depending on the nature of the interaction of the user 16 withthe product 18, equipment 20, or promotional object 22. For example, theloyalty management engine or module 38 may set a relatively morevaluable benefit when the loyalty management engine or module 38 canconfirm that the user 16 actually purchased or received a product fromthe equipment 20, and the loyalty management engine or module 38 may seta relatively less valuable benefit when the loyalty management engine ormodule 38 cannot confirm that the user 16 purchased or received aproduct from the equipment 20. The loyalty management engine or module38 also may set the relatively less valuable benefit when the userinteracts with the product 18 as opposed to the equipment 20 thatprovides the product or accepts payment for the product, as the product18 may have already been received or purchased in such cases. Theloyalty management engine or module 38 also may set the relatively lessvaluable benefit when the user 16 interacts with the promotional object22, as purchase or receipt may or may not even be possible. In otherwords, the loyalty management engine or module 38 may reward the user 16for merely interacting with products 18, promotional objects 22, andsome types of equipment 20, while rewarding the user 16 for actuallyreceiving or purchasing a product from other types of equipment 20. Morespecifically, when the equipment 20 can communicate through theinteraction terminal 14 with the personal terminal 12, an indication maybe transmitted from the equipment 20 to the personal terminal 12indicating that the equipment 20 has provided a product or receivedpayment. Thus, the personal terminal 12 may be aware that the equipment20 has provided the product or received payment for the product, and theloyalty management engine or module 38 may set the benefit accordingly.However, when the interaction terminal 14 is not operable to permitcommunication between the personal terminal 12 and the equipment 20, thepersonal terminal 12 may not receive an indication that the equipment 20has provided a product or received payment for a product, and theloyalty management engine or module 38 may set the benefit accordingly.

The loyalty management engine or module 38 also may vary or limit thebenefit based on a pre-defined criteria. The pre-defined criteria may beone or more of time, location, product, brand, frequency, quantity,price. For example, the user 16 may work in an office environment havinga fountain machine that dispenses beverages for free. The loyaltymanagement engine or module 38 may limit the benefit that may beobtained by placing the personal terminal 12 in proximity of thefountain machine to, for example, one benefit per hour. As anotherexample, the loyalty management engine or module 38 may limit thebenefit that may be obtained by placing the personal terminal 12 inproximity of the product 18. For example, the user 16 may receive thebenefit the first time the personal terminal 12 is placed in proximityof the product 18, but not thereafter. Thus, the user 16 may beprevented from receiving benefits for repeatedly interacting with thesame product 18, equipment 20, or promotional object 22.

Once determined, the loyalty management engine or module 38 may storethe benefit in one or more of the memory 28 of the personal terminal 12and the database 64 of the loyalty server 24. The benefit may betemporarily stored in preparation for immediate redemption, or thebenefit may be added to a balance of accrued benefits for futureredemption. The balance of accrued benefits may indicate the benefitsthat have been accrued by the user 16 but have not been redeemed. Insome cases, the balance of accrued benefits may be stored in the memory28 of the personal terminal 12, so that the benefits are available forredemption when the personal terminal 12 interacts with the equipment 20through the interaction terminal 14. In other cases, the balance ofbenefits may be stored in the database 64 of the loyalty server 24, suchas in the account 68 of the user 16, so that the benefits are availablefor redemption from the loyalty server 24 through the user interface 58,as further described below. In still other cases, the balance of accruedbenefits may be stored both on the personal terminal 12 and in theloyalty server 24, so that the user 16 may redeem the benefits at theequipment 20 using the personal terminal 12 or from the loyalty server24 through the user interface 58.

So that the benefit becomes stored in the loyalty server 24, the loyaltymanagement engine or module 38 may upload the benefit into the loyaltyserver 24 over the network 42. In some embodiments, the personalterminal 12 may be in connection with a network 42, such as a wirelessor cellular network, in which case the benefit may be uploadedimmediately. In other embodiments, the loyalty management engine ormodule 38 may store the benefit in the memory 28 of the personalterminal 12, and subsequently, the benefit may be uploaded into theloyalty server 24. For example, the personal terminal 12 may beconnected to or may communicate with the intermediate device 40, such asa personal computer, and the intermediate device 40 may communicate withthe network 42. It should be noted that the benefit may also be storedon the interaction terminal 14 and/or the equipment 20.

In some embodiments, the loyalty management engine or module 38 may beadapted to synchronize at least some of the information stored in thememory 28 of the personal terminal 12 and at least some of theinformation stored in the account 68 of the loyalty server 24. Forexample, the balance of benefits may be stored in both places, so thatthe user 16 may redeem the benefits at either the equipment 20 orthrough the user interface 58. Additionally, the pre-paid cash balance,the credit card number, and/or the debit card number may be entered intothe loyalty server 24 and may be downloaded into the personal terminal12 using the intermediate device 40 and/or the network 42. Thus, thepre-paid cash balance, the credit card number, and/or the debit cardnumber user 16 may become stored on the personal terminal 12 so that theuser 16 can use the personal terminal 12 to make cashless payments atthe equipment 20, as described below.

The system 10 may also be adapted to receive an instruction to redeemthe benefit. For example, the personal terminal 12 may receive theinstruction to redeem the benefit. The user 16 may input the instructioninto the personal terminal 12 directly. Alternatively, the user 16 mayinput the instruction into the equipment 20 and the instruction may betransmitted from the equipment 20 to the personal terminal 12. Inresponse to the instruction of the user 16, the loyalty managementengine or module 38 of the personal terminal 12 may access the memory 28to determine whether the user 16 has the benefits required forcompleting the instruction. If so, the loyalty management engine ormodule 38 may debit the balance of accrued benefits and may transmit aninstruction to the equipment 20. Thus, the equipment 20 may provide theuser 16 with a product for free or at a reduced price. For example, thebenefit may be a credit toward a portion of the price of a bottledbeverage, and the equipment 20 may be a vending machine that accepts thecredit to reduce the price of the bottled beverage. Thus, theinstruction may cause the vending machine to dispense the bottledbeverage for the reduced price. It should be noted that the order of thesteps may be reversed in some cases. For example, the loyalty managementengine or module 38 may send the instruction to the equipment 20 beforethe balance of accrued benefits is debited. Further, if the benefits arenot stored locally, the loyalty management engine or module 38 maycommunicate with the loyalty server 24 over the network 42 to determinewhether the user 16 has sufficient benefits and to debit the balance ofaccrued benefits in the account 68.

In other cases, the loyalty server 24 may receive the instruction toredeem the benefit. The user 16 may input the instruction into the userinterface 58 of the loyalty server 24, which may be a website that isavailable to the user 16 over the internet. The user interface 58 maypresent products or services to the user 16, and may permit the user 16to select one of the products or services in exchange for one or morebenefits. In response to the selection of the user 16, the loyaltymanagement engine or module 66 of the loyalty server 24 may access thebalance of accrued benefits to determine whether the user 16 has thebenefits required for completing the instruction. If so, the loyaltymanagement engine or module 66 may debit the balance of accrued benefitsand may generate an instruction to provide the product or service to theuser 16. For example, the benefit may be a loyalty point that can beaccrued with other loyalty points. The user interface 58 may offer at-shirt in exchange for one hundred loyalty points and a guitar inexchange for one thousand loyalty points. Once the user 16 has accruedone hundred loyalty points in his account 68, the user 16 may access theuser interface 58 to redeem the loyalty points for the t-shirt.

It should be noted that the instruction to redeem the benefit may be asignal to any device capable of accepting at least a portion of thebenefit as payment for a product or service. Such devices may include avending machine, a cash register, a credit card machine, a debit cardmachine, a cash acceptance device, a cash transaction device, a cashlesstransaction device, an automatic teller machine, a point-of-saleterminal, a computer system, a website or a property management system.The signal may be, for example, an email, a phone call, a message, awired or a wireless signal. For example, the user 16 may be able toredeem the loyalty points for products and services in a catalog.

The personal terminal 12 may be adapted to perform cashless transactionsat the equipment 20. As mentioned above, the user 16 may associate aform of payment with his account 68, such as a credit card number, adebit card number, or a pre-paid cash balance. The form of payment maybe maintained in the loyalty server 24, may be downloaded from theloyalty server 24 to the memory 28 of the personal terminal 12, or maybe synchronized in both places. The personal terminal 12 may receive aninstruction to transmit the form of payment to the equipment 20. Forexample, the user 16 may enter the instruction into the personalterminal 12, or the user 16 may enter the instruction into the equipment20, and the instruction may be communicated from the equipment 20 to thepersonal terminal 12 through the interaction terminal 14. In response tothe instruction of the user 16, the loyalty management engine or module38 may perform at least some preliminary processing to determine whetherthe selected form of payment can be used. For example, the loyaltymanagement engine or module 38 may ascertain whether the user 16 hassufficient funds in his pre-paid cash balance. If so, the loyaltymanagement engine or module 38 may transmit an indication of paymentfrom the personal terminal 12 to the equipment 20 through theinteraction terminal 14, the indication of payment being one of thecredit card number, the debit card number, or a debit from the pre-paidcash balance, as appropriate. Thus, the equipment 20 may receive theindication of payment, and the product may be provided to the user 16.For example, the equipment 20 may be a vending machine and theindication of payment may be a debit from the pre-paid cash balance.Upon receipt of the indication of payment, the equipment 20 may providethe selected product, such as a bottled beverage. As another example,the equipment 20 may be a credit card machine and the indication ofpayment may be the credit card number of the user 16. Upon receipt ofthe indication of payment, the equipment 20 may charge the product tothe credit card.

In some embodiments, the form of payment may be a credit extended to theuser 16. For example, the loyalty management engine or module 38 maydetermine that the user 16 cannot use the selected form of payment, suchas in cases in which the user 16 has depleted his pre-paid cash balance.The loyalty management engine or module 38 may determine whether creditcan be extended to the user 16. If so, the loyalty management engine ormodule 38 may transmit an indication of payment from the personalterminal 12 to the equipment 20, the indication of payment being theextended credit. Thus, the equipment 20 may receive the indication ofpayment, and the product may be provided to the user 16. The loyaltymanagement engine or module 38 also may store the extended credit in thememory 28, so that the user 16 may be charged accordingly.

The personal terminal 12 may be adapted to authorize or limittransactions at the equipment 20. The user 16 may enter a selection atthe equipment 20, and the equipment 20 may transmit the selection to thepersonal terminal 12 through the interaction terminal 14. The loyaltymanagement engine or module 38 may determine whether the transaction isauthorized, and the loyalty management engine or module 38 may transmitan appropriate instruction to the equipment 20 either allowing ordenying the transaction. In response to the instruction, the equipment20 may or may not allow the user 16 to purchase or obtain the product.Such a system 10 may be employed in, for example, a school. Facultymembers and students may be provided with personal terminals 12. Thepersonal terminals 12 provided to the faculty members may have a loyaltymanagement engine or module 38 adapted to permit the faculty member toenter any transaction at the equipment 20 at any time, while thepersonal terminals 12 provided to the students may have a loyaltymanagement engine or module 38 that limits the students. For example,the students may be prevented for obtaining or purchasing certainproducts at certain times of day.

The personal terminal 12 may be a gateway between the various componentsof the system 10. For example, the personal terminal 12 may permitcommunication between the interaction terminal 14 and the loyalty server24. The interaction terminal 14 may have the loyalty management engineor module 56 that determines the benefit, and the benefit may betransmitted from the interaction terminal 14 to the personal terminal 12for uploading into the loyalty server 24. Thus, the personal terminal 12may be used to transmit benefits between various components of thesystem 10. In cases in which the interaction terminal 14 can communicatewith the equipment 20, the personal terminal 12 may permit communicationbetween the equipment 20 and the loyalty server 24. For example, thepersonal terminal 12 may be employed to update the software or firmwareon the equipment 20. The loyalty server 24 may download such updates tothe personal terminal 12, and the personal terminal 12 may transmit theupdates to the equipment 20 through the interaction terminal 14.Alternatively, the system 10 may enable capturing data about the buyinghabits of the user 16. The equipment 20 may transmit information aboutthe transaction through the interaction terminal 16 to the personalterminal 14. The information may indicate the type of product that waspurchased or obtained from the equipment 20, the cost of the product, aunique identifier of the equipment 20, a unique identifier of the user16, and any other desired information. For example, the equipment 20 maybe a vending machine, and the information may be DEX data obtained bythe DEX interface of the vending machine. The information may beuploaded from the equipment 20 through the interaction terminal 14 tothe personal terminal 12, and from the personal terminal 12 to theloyalty server 24. The loyalty management engine or module 66 of theloyalty server 24 may analyze the information for trends or otherrelevant information. In some cases, the loyalty management engine ormodule 66 may also provide the user 16 with a benefit as a result of theanalysis performed on the information.

It should be noted that other types of benefits may be provided by thesystem 10. For example, the benefit may be an obligation on behalf ofthe party providing the benefit to match a charitable contribution ofthe user 16. Additionally, the benefit may be determined, stored orredeemed in other manners. For example, the benefit may be stored on theinteraction terminal 14, the equipment 20, or any other suitable device.In some embodiments, the benefit may also be transmitted between thesecomponents in any manner. For example, the interaction terminal 14 maybe in communication with the network 42 and may upload the benefit intothe loyalty server 24. In such an embodiment, the personal terminal 12may communicate identifying information to the interaction terminal 14,such as a user identifier of the user 16 or an account identifier forthe account 68.

Further, the benefit may be redeemed other than at the equipment 20 orthrough the user interface 58. For example, the benefit may be redeemedat other machines or through websites that are not affiliated with thesystem 10. Such machines or websites may be in communication with theloyalty server 24 over the network 42. Alternatively, such machines mayhave an interaction terminal 14 that may communicate with the personalterminal 12 of the user 16. Other configurations are also possible.Further, a benefit may reward the user 16 in other manners thanproviding the user 16 with a product or service for free or at a reducedprice. For example, the user 16 may not receive a free product orservice, or a discount toward a product or service in some embodiments,such as in embodiments in which a benefit is an obligation on behalf ofthe party providing the benefit to match a charitable contribution ofthe user 16.

It also should be noted that the loyalty server 24 may be omittedcompletely in some embodiments. In such embodiments, benefits may bestored on the personal terminal 12 or any other components of the system10, and such benefits may be redeemed at the equipment 20 or throughother devices that accept the benefit, although other configurations arepossible.

The embodiments described above are not exclusive and the system 10 mayinclude multiple different embodiments or have elements of multipledifferent embodiments. For example, the system 10 may include any numberof personal terminals 12 and a number of interaction terminals 14. Thepersonal terminals 12 may be associated with a number of users 16, andthe interaction terminals 14 may be associated with a number of products18, equipment 20, and promotional objects 22. The user 16 may use thesame personal terminal 12 to interact with each of the differentproducts 18, equipment 20, and promotional objects 22. Thus, the user 16may carry one personal terminal 12 and may present the personal terminal12 at the different products 18, equipment 20, and promotional objects22 to receive benefits, such as loyalty points. In some cases, the user16 also may use the personal terminal 12 to redeem the benefits at theequipment 20 or to complete cashless transactions at the equipment 20,such as transactions paid for by credit card, debit card, or from thepre-paid cash balance associated with the account 68 of the user 16.

Embodiments of the system 10 described above may be suited for broadimplementation. Relatively complex and/or expensive interactionterminals 14 may be deployed on newer or more sophisticated equipment20, on equipment 20 that is located in a relatively high traffic area,or on equipment 20 that moves a relatively high volume of products. Suchan interaction terminal 14 may be integrated with the equipment 20.Relatively less complex and/or less expensive interaction terminals 14may be deployed on equipment 20 that is relatively older or lesssophisticated, on equipment 20 that is located in a relatively lowvolume area, or on equipment 20 that moves a relatively low volume ofproducts. Such interaction terminals 14 may be deployed by mounting orassociating with the equipment 20 instead of integrating with theequipment 20. Such interaction terminals 14 may also be mounted on orassociated with the disposable packaging of a product 18 or apromotional object 22, such as an advertisement or a display. Thus, thesystem 10 is adapted to be broadly implemented both across newinfrastructure and within the existing base of equipment 20. When costeffective, the interaction terminal 14 may be integrated with theequipment 20, so that in addition to obtaining benefits at the equipment20, the user 16 may use the personal terminal 12 to redeem benefits andperform cashless transactions at the equipment 20. When integrating theinteraction terminal 14 with the equipment 20 is not cost effective orfeasible, the interaction terminal 14 may be mounted to or otherwiseassociated with the product 18, equipment 20, or promotional object 22,so that the user 16 is still able to obtain benefits using the personalterminal 12. Such a system rewards the user 16 for interacting withequipment 20 that may or may not be integrated with the interactionterminal 14, utilizing integrated interaction terminals 14 to providethe user with increased functionality when feasible, yet utilizingmounted or associated interaction terminals 14 to reward the user 16when integration is prohibitively expensive, difficult to effectuate, orimpossible. For example, the user 16 may obtain benefits from products18 having disposable packaging and from older equipment 20 that cannotbe integrated with new technology in a cost effective manner.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a personal terminal200. The personal terminal 200 can be formed as an iconic fashion itemthat also incorporates operational components, such as electronics. Inthis regard, the personal terminal 200 may be suited to be incorporatedinto one of a number of fashion designs, such as a key chain, anecklace, or clothing, among others. In addition, the personal terminal200 also incorporates operation components such that the personalterminal 200 can be used to identify a user, transmit a form of payment,store information, process signals transmitted between the personalterminal and the interaction terminal, and communicate with one or moreof the interaction terminals, the loyalty server, or one or moreintermediate devices, among others, as generally described above.

The personal terminal 200 can be configured to operate in a passivemode, an active mode, or in a hybrid mode. In the passive mode thepersonal terminal 200 can be interrogated by and can communicate withthe interaction terminal but may not communicate with other dataprocessing devices, such as vending or host equipment or a network. Inthe active mode, the personal terminal 200 can communicate with one ormore other data processing devices and resources, such as a wirelessdevice and/or a loyalty server, among others. In the hybrid mode thepersonal terminal 200 can operate in either the passive mode or theactive mode.

In embodiments in which the personal terminal 200 is configured tooperate in the passive mode, the personal terminal 200 may not beadapted to communicate with data processing devices other than theinteraction terminal. Thus, the personal terminal 200 may be relativelyless expensive to manufacture, and the interaction terminal may beresponsible for at least some transaction processing.

When the personal terminal 200 is configured to operate in the activemode, the personal terminal 200 may be adapted to communicate with dataprocessing devices other than the interaction terminal. Thus, theinteraction terminal may be relatively less expensive to manufacture, asthe interaction terminal may not be responsible for a significantportion of the transaction processing. Instead, the personal terminal200 may provide the networking functionality to effectuate transactionprocessing. Such networking functionality may be effectuated by thepersonal terminal 200 communicating, either directly or indirectly, withdata processing devices such as the loyalty server. For example, thepersonal terminal 200 may communicate by way of the intermediate device,which may be a personal computer, to the data processing resource, suchas the loyalty server. As another example, the personal terminal 200 maycommunicate by way of a wireless device, such as cellular phone, amongothers. In the hybrid mode, the personal terminal 200 may be adapted tointeract either passively or actively with the interaction terminal.

In some embodiments, the personal terminal 200 can include a charm or afob 202 and an encapsulation 204. Although a range of materials such asmetal, plastic, glass, and other materials can be used for the variouscomponents of the personal terminal 200, in the illustrated embodiment,the charm 202 is formed from glass, and the encapsulation 204 is formedfrom metal. The operational components of the personal terminal 200,such as the processor, memory, and interaction terminal interface, areenclosed inside the encapsulation 204, which is securely embedded withinthe charm or fob 202. For example, the interaction terminal interfacemay include an antenna that can communicate through the encapsulation,and the network interface or intermediate device interface maywirelessly communicate through the encapsulation. The charm or fob 202may be releasably secured by a secure clip 206 to an item, such as akeychain, armband, cell phone. In operation, the user may position thepersonal terminal 200, while secured into position on the item by thesecure clip 206, proximate to an interaction terminal to invokeoperation. Alternatively, the user may remove the personal terminal 200from the secure clip 206 and position the personal terminal 200proximate to the interaction terminal to invoke operation.

For example, a user having the personal terminal 200 secured by thesecure clip 206 on a key chain may find it easier to position the keychain proximate to the interaction terminal to invoke operation.Alternatively, a user having the personal terminal 200 secured by thesecure clip 206 on a pair of pants may remove the personal terminal 200from the secure clip 206 in order to position the personal terminal 200proximate to an interaction terminal to invoke operation.

FIGS. 3-12 illustrate embodiments of the personal terminal associatedwith various items. FIG. 3A illustrates an embodiment of a personalterminal 300 that can be secured by an embodiment of a secure clip, suchas the secure clip 302 shown in FIG. 3B. The personal terminal 300 canbe inserted into, retained by, and removed from the secure clip 302, asshown in FIG. 3C. The secure clip 302 may be adapted such that the usercan remove the personal terminal 300 from the secure clip 302 when thepersonal terminal 300 is needed, and secure the personal terminal 300 insecure clip 302 when the personal terminal 300 is not needed. The secureclip 302 may be made from any resilient material, such as plastic orrubber, that gives when the personal terminal 300 is inserted into thesecure clip 302, and thereafter returns to grasp or hold the personalterminal 300 within the secure clip 302. In other cases, the secure clip302 may include a releasable clasp, in which case the secure clip 302may be made from metal or any other material. A range of otherconfigurations are within the skill of a person in the art.

For example, the personal terminal 300 can be secured by secure clip 302in an arm band 304, as shown in FIG. 3D. In another embodiment, thepersonal terminal 300 can also be secured by a secure clip 306 in awrist band 308, as shown in FIG. 3E. In other embodiments, the personalterminal 300 can be secured by a secure clip 302 and the secure clip 302can be secured to other fashion items or to other consumer selecteditems, among others.

FIG. 4A illustrates a personal terminal 400 being held by a secure clip402 in a pendant 404. Such a pendant 404 can be incorporated into anecklace 406, as shown in FIG. 4B, a backpack 408, as shown in FIG. 4C,a pair of pants 410, as shown in FIG. 4D, or other wearable or portableitems depending on the embodiment.

FIG. 5A illustrates a personal terminal 500 being held by a secure clip502 in an arm band 504. As shown in FIG. 5B, the personal terminal 500may be released by the secure clip 502 to disassociate the personalterminal 500 from the arm band 504. The arm band 504 can be positioned,for example, on an arm of the user as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, althoughother configurations are possible.

FIG. 6A illustrates a personal terminal 600 being held by a secure clip602 on a wireless device 604, such as a wireless phone, personal dataassistant (PDA), and/or any other wireless device. Again, the personalterminal 600 may be disassociated from the secure clip 600, as shown inFIG. 6B. The personal terminal may also be associated with portableitems or other items to be carried by the user. For example, in FIG. 7,an embodiment of a personal terminal 700 is associated with a notebook702, and in FIG. 8, an embodiment of a personal terminal 800 isassociated with a pocketbook 802.

FIG. 9A illustrates an embodiment of a personal terminal 900 beingsecured by a secure clip 902 to a lanyard 904. A quick disconnect 906permits separating the personal terminal 900 from the lanyard 904. Thequick disconnect 906 can be used in combination with or as analternative to the secure clip 902.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a personal terminal 1000 secured bya secure clip 1002 and a quick disconnect 1006 to a keychain 1004. Theuser can carry the personal terminal 1000 using the keychain 1004. Thepersonal terminal 1000 can be separated from the keychain by releasingthe personal terminal 1000 from the secure clip 1002 or by releasing thequick disconnect 1006 from the keychain 1004. FIG. 11 illustrates alanyard 1104 and a keychain 1110 interconnected by way of quickdisconnects 1106 and 1108. The user can connect the lanyard 1104 and thekeychain 1110 together using the quick disconnects 1106 and 1108. Thelanyard 1104 can be worn on the body of the user, so that both thepersonal terminal 1100 and the keychain 1110 of the user can betransported with the user via the lanyard 1104.

FIG. 12A illustrates an embodiment of a personal terminal 1200 beingheld by a secure clip 1202 to a strap 1204. The personal terminal 1200may be releasably secured to the strap 1204 by the secure clip 1202, asshown in FIG. 12B. The user can wear the strap 1204 on his body as shownin FIG. 12C, or the user can associate the strap 1204 with an object,such as a handbag 1206, as shown in FIG. 12D.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a personal terminal 1300 associatedwith a card 1302. The card 1302 may be an identification card, a creditcard, a hotel room key card, an employee badge, a student ID badge, aprisoner badge, a guest or VIP badge, or any other kind of card. Theuser may be likely to carry the card 1300 with him and therefore thepersonal terminal 1300 may be accessible.

FIGS. 14-16 illustrate block diagrams for various embodiments ofpersonal terminals. The personal terminal may include a microcontrollerthat is operationally related to an interaction terminal interface, suchas an RFID interface, so that the personal terminal can interface withthe interaction terminal. The microcontroller may be operationallyrelated to other interfaces including a network interface, which may bewired or wireless local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)interface. The personal terminal can be configured to implement one ormore of these interfaces. The personal terminal and interaction terminalcan communicate wired or wirelessly.

The microcontroller can include a combination of processing unit and amemory. The processing unit may be micro processing unit (MPU) orcentral processing unit (CPU) and the memory may be a random accessmemory (RAM) or a non-volatile memory. Other processing units andmemories may be employed, either separately or in combination.Peripherals and ports may also be included, such as serial ports,general purpose inputs/outputs (GPIO), I²C, serial peripheral interface(SPI), universal asynchronous serial transceiver (UART), IRDA port,analog to digital (A to D), digital to analog (D to A), Ethernet MAC orEMAC interface, or other peripherals or ports.

The user initiates a data communication between a personal terminal andan interaction terminal when the personal terminal is brought into datacommunication proximity with an interaction terminal. The personalterminal can operate in the passive mode where the personal terminalexchanges data with the interaction terminal and the interactionterminal is responsible for completing the transaction, includingtransaction processing, and data communication to other data processingresources, such as the loyalty server. Alternatively, the personalterminal can operate in the active mode where the interaction terminalprovides data to the personal terminal and the personal terminal isresponsible for transaction processing or communicating with other dataprocessing resources such as the loyalty server.

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a personalterminal 1400 adapted to operate in the passive mode. As shown, thepersonal terminal 1400 includes a microcontroller 1402 that isoperationally related to an interaction terminal interface 1404. Theinteraction terminal interface 1404 enables the personal terminal 1400to communicate with the interaction terminal. The interaction terminalinterface 1404 can implement any communication technology, whether shortrange or long range, wired or wireless. Example communicationtechnologies that may be implemented include wireless personal areanetwork technology, proximity card or smartcard technology, near fieldcommunication technology, radio frequency (RF) or RFID technology,infrared, laser or other optical communication technology, touch andother proximity related technology, among other communicationtechnologies or any combination of these or other technologies.

In this embodiment, the personal terminal 1400 operates in the passivemode, using the interaction terminal interface 1404 to communicate withan interaction terminal. Such a personal terminal 1400 may be relativelylow cost. As such, relatively high quantities of the personal terminal1400 can be deployed relatively inexpensively. A power source 1406 canbe utilized to provide power to the personal terminal 1400. However, thepower source 1406 may be omitted from at least some of the passive modeembodiments.

FIG. 15 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the personalterminal 1500. As shown, the personal terminal 1500 includes amicrocontroller 1502 that is operationally related to an interactionterminal interface 1504 and a network interface 1508. The personalterminal 1500 may be configured to communicate via the interactionterminal interface 1504 with one or more interaction terminals, and maycommunicate by way of the network interface 1508 with other dataprocessing resources, such as a loyalty server. The network interface1508 may be configured to enable communications between the personalterminal and a network. The network can be any kind of network includinga LAN, a WAN, a private network, the internet, a cellular network, anyother type of network, or combinations thereof. Communication betweenthe personal terminal 1508 and the network may be wired or wireless. Forexample, the network interface 1508 may include a plug, such as a USBplug, that is adapted to interface with a port, such as a USB port, on adevice that is connected to the network, such as a computer. As anotherexample, the network interface 1508 may enable wireless communicationbetween the personal terminal 1500 and the network. For example, thewireless communication may comply with 802.xx standards defined by IEEE,including wireless local area network standards and wireless personalarea network standards, among others. The wireless communication mayalso comply with infrared communication standards defined by theInfrared Data Association (IrDA). Other configurations are possible.Such a personal terminal 1500 may also be configured to act as a gatewayso that the interaction terminal can communicate by way of the personalterminal 1500 with other data processing resources such as the loyaltyserver. A power source 1506 may be provided in active mode embodimentsof the personal terminal, such as the personal terminal 1500.

In another exemplary embodiment, a personal terminal 12 communicates byway of infrared signal (IRDA). In this regard, personal terminal 12 canoperate as a consumer interface to vending equipment, and/or a paymentdevice having storing-accessing-loyalty-or other payment functionality,which effectuates the identification of consumer and the billing and/orinventory release for goods and services dispensed from vending machine.

In an exemplary embodiment a microcontroller can be interconnected withan IRDA interface, a LED display interface, and/or a touch input.

In an exemplary embodiment a microcontroller can be a MOTOROLA,MICROCHIP, RABBIT, ZILOG, or other manufacturer or brand, as may berequired and/or desired in a particular embodiment. For purposes ofdisclosure microcontroller can be referred to as a microprocessor.

In an exemplary embodiment an IRDA interface can be used to effectuatedata communication with the interaction terminal by way of IRDAinterface. Such data communication can include, for example and not alimitation, effectuating a vending cycle with a personal terminal,exchanging data with a interaction terminal, or other types and kinds ofdata communication with a personal terminal, interaction terminal, dataprocessing device, and/or other types and kinds of devices, as may berequired and/or desired in a particular embodiment. Such IRDA can beimplemented with a transmitter/receiver IRDA module or other types andkinds of IRDA data communication devices, as may be required and/ordesired in a particular embodiment.

In an exemplary embodiment a LED display interface can be implemented toprovide LED lighting and display effects. Such LED lighting and displayeffects, can make use of single and/or multicolor producing LED as toallow a wide range of color options. Such effects can be tailored as maybe required and/or desired in a particular embodiment.

In an exemplary embodiment touch input can be utilized to acceptconsumer input. Such consumer input can be to make product selection, tomanage account information, to change functionality of the personalterminal, or other consumer input, as may be required and/or desired ina particular embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment touch input can beby way of capacitive sense, pressure sensitive surfaces, buttons,switches, or other touch input technologies, as may be required and/ordesired in a particular embodiment.

FIG. 16 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a personalterminal 1600 adapted for active mode applications. As shown, thepersonal terminal 1600 may include an interaction terminal interface1604 that is an RFID interface 1610. In embodiments, the personalterminal 1600 may be configured to communicate via the RFID interface1610 with one or more interaction terminals. The personal terminal 1600may also communicate by way of a network interface 1608 with other dataprocessing resources, such as the loyalty server. Such an embodiment ofthe personal terminal 1600 can be configured to act as a gateway, sothat the interaction terminal can communicate by way of the personalterminal 1600 with data processing resources such as the loyalty server.Again, a power source 1606 may be provided.

FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a personalterminal 1700 adapted to produce light. The personal terminal 1700 mayinclude a light source 1708 that is operationally related to amicrocontroller 1702. The light source 1708 may generate light. In somecases, the light source 1708 may be able to generate various differentcolors of light. The light may be generated by the light source 1708 inresponse to an input of the user, a communication received from thevending or host equipment through the interaction terminal interface1704, a communication received from the loyalty server through thenetwork interface 1712, or a change in environmental lightingconditions.

In embodiments in which the light source 1708 generates light inresponse to a change in environmental lighting conditions, the personalterminal 1700 may further include the light sensor 1706. The lightsensor 1706 may receive ambient light. The microcontroller 1702 mayperform a spectral analysis of the light received by the light sensorand may determine a lighting adjustment factor based at least in part ona spectral analysis. The microcontroller 1702 may operate the lightsource 1708 based at least in part on the lighting adjustment factor toproduce light of a specific color.

Such a configuration may be used with reference to a personal terminalsuch as the personal terminal 200 described above with reference to FIG.2. As mentioned, the personal terminal 200 may include a charm or fob202 and an encapsulation 204. The charm or fob 202 may be made from atranslucent material, such as glass or plastic. In some cases, thetranslucent material may be colored. For example, the translucentmaterial may be a particular color identified with a particular product,service, brand, or entity. Ambient light passing through the charm orfob 202 may alter the color of the translucent material, such that thecharm or fob 202 appears to be a color other than the particular color.In such cases, the light source and light sensor may be provided. Forexample, the light source and the light sensor may be included with theencapsulation 204 embedded in the charm or fob 202. The light sensor mayreceive ambient light passing through the charm or fob 202. Based on aspectral analysis of the ambient light, a lighting adjustment factor maybe determined. The light source may be positioned to emit light throughthe translucent material of the charm or fob 202. The light source maybe operated based at least in part on the lighting adjustment factor tolight the charm or fob 202 to the particular color. Specifically, thecolor of the light emitted by the light source may be selected such thatwhen the light from the light source combines with the ambient light,the charm or fob 202 appears to be the particular color. Thus, the lightemitted by the light source may vary depending on the environmentallighting conditions, so that the translucent material of the charm orfob 202 appears to be the particular color.

FIG. 18 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a power source1800 of a personal terminal. The personal terminal can one or more powersources including a solar power source 1802, a chemical power source1804, a battery power source 1806, or a micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS)power source 1808, among others. Any one of or combination of thesepower sources can be used. Alternatively, the personal terminal may beexternally powered by the vending equipment, host equipment, a separatepower supply, or from other external power sources.

The interaction terminal may be associated with a product, as shown inFIGS. 19-21. FIG. 19 illustrates an embodiment of an interactionterminal 1900 associated with a lid 1902 of a product. FIG. 20illustrates an embodiment of an interaction terminal 2000 associatedwith packaging materials 2004 of a product 2002. FIG. 21 illustrates anembodiment of an interaction terminal 2100 associated with a tamperresistant seal 2104 of a product 2102. The interaction terminal 2100 canbe located on either an inside surface of the tamper resistant seal 2104(closest to the product 2102) or on the outside surface of the tamperresistant seal 2104 (away from the product 2102). Although theinteraction terminal is shown on the lid, the packing materials, or thetamper resistant seal of the product, it is understood that theinteraction terminal may be associated with the product in any manner.

Associating the interaction terminal with the product causes the productto become a touch point of loyalty, as the user in possession of theproduct can use the personal terminal to communicate with theinteraction terminal and obtain loyalty rewards, product information, orother information.

Associating the interaction terminal with the product also may enable auser having the personal terminal to communicate with the interactionterminal and to pay for the product by way of account informationassociated with the personal terminal of the user. For example, thepersonal terminal may store forms of payment such as a stored value, abalance of loyalty reward points, a credit card number, a debit cardnumber, or other means of payment.

FIGS. 22-24 are block diagrams of embodiments of an interactionterminal. The interaction terminal can be configured with one or moreinterfaces including a personal terminal interface, a vending or hostequipment interface, and a display interface. In embodiments, the userinitiates communication between the personal terminal and theinteraction terminal when the personal terminal is brought intocommunication proximity of the interaction terminal. The interactionterminal can operate in the passive mode where the personal terminalobtains data from the interaction terminal and the personal terminal isresponsible for completing the transaction (either real time or at asubsequent time), including processing the transaction, awarding aloyalty reward, managing loyalty reward data, and communicating withdata processing resources such as the loyalty server. Alternatively, theinteraction terminal can operate in the active mode where the personalterminal provides data to the interaction terminal and the interactionterminal is responsible for transaction processing, awarding the loyaltyrewards, managing the loyalty reward data, and communicating with otherdata processing resources such as the loyalty server.

FIG. 22 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an interactionterminal 2200 adapted for operating in the passive mode. As shown, amicrocontroller 2202 is operationally related to a personal terminalinterface 2204. The microcontroller 2202 can be any microcontroller, asdescribed above with reference to the microcontroller of the personalterminal. The personal terminal interface 2204 is described below withreference to FIG. 25. In this embodiment, the interaction terminal 2200operates in the passive mode, using the personal terminal interface 2204to communicate with the personal terminal. Such an interaction terminal2200 may be relatively inexpensive to manufacture. As such, asubstantial number of the interaction terminals 2200 can be deployed inan area or geography, encouraging the success of the loyalty program bycreating more places where the personal terminal can be used. A powersource 2206 may power the interaction terminal 2200, although the powersource 2206 may be omitted.

FIG. 23 illustrates an embodiment of an interaction terminal 2300 havinga microcontroller 2302 operationally related to a personal terminalinterface 2304 and a vending equipment interface 2308. The interactionterminal 2300 can be interfaced to the vending equipment through thevending equipment interface 2308. Thus, the personal terminal caninteract with the vending equipment by way of the interaction terminal2300 to effectuate a transaction. A power source 2306 may be provided insuch an embodiment.

FIG. 24 illustrates an embodiment of an interaction terminal 2400 havinga microcontroller 2402 that is operationally related to a personalterminal interface 2404 and a host equipment interface 2408. Theinteraction terminal 2400 can be interfaced to the host equipment by wayof the host equipment interface 2408. Thus, the personal terminal caninteract with the host equipment by way of the interaction terminal 2400to effectuate a transaction. A power source 2406 may be provided in suchan embodiment.

FIG. 25 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a personalterminal interface 2500 of the interaction terminal. The configurationof the personal terminal interface 2500 of the interaction terminal isselected to correspond to the configuration of the interaction terminalinterface of the personal terminal. These two interfaces communicatewith each other, and therefore these two interfaces implementcorresponding technology. Therefore, the personal terminal interface2500 may implement any of the communication technologies described abovewith reference to the interaction terminal interface, and theinteraction terminal interface may implement any of the communicationtechnologies described below with reference to the personal terminalinterface. For example, the personal terminal interface 2500 can includeone or more of the following: a radio frequency ID (RFID) interface2502, a radio frequency interface (RF) 2504, an optical interface 2506,a touch interface 2508, a machine readable interface 2510, such as abarcode, a wired interface 2512, a wireless interface 2514, a biometricinterface 2516, or a general purpose input/output interface (GPIO) 2518,among others.

The radio frequency ID (RFID) interface 2502 may allow the interactionterminal to communicate with the personal terminal, or other dataprocessing devices, using RFID technology. For example, the interactionterminal may have RFID data read from it or written to it by thepersonal terminal or any other RFID tag or reader located external tothe interaction terminal. The radio frequency interface (RF) 2504 mayallow the interaction terminal to communicate wirelessly. Such an RFinterface 2504 can be an 802.11 type interface, a WIFI interface, or aBLUETOOTH interface, among other RF interfaces 2504.

The optical interface 2506 may enable the interaction terminal tocommunicate wirelessly using optical technology. For example, theoptical interface 2506 may be an IRDA interface having atransmitter/receiver IRDA module, or any other configuration thatenables IRDA communication.

The touch interface 2508 can be utilized to accept consumer input. Suchconsumer input can be to make a product selection, to manage accountinformation, to change the color or functionality of the personalterminal, or other consumer input. For example, the touch interface 2508may be a capacitive sense, a pressure sensitive surface, a button, or aswitch. The touch interface 2508 may also have any other configuration,or a combination of any of these and/or other configurations.

The machine readable interface 2510 may enable the interaction terminalto communicate with the personal terminal or other data processingdevices using machine readable codes, such as bar codes. The machinereadable interface 2510 may include a machine readable code reader, suchas a standard reader, a complex symbol reader, or a custom reader, amongothers, or the machine readable interface 2510 may include a machinereadable code, such as a barcode.

The wired interface 2512 may enable the interaction terminal communicatewith the personal terminal or another data processing device, using, forexample, ETHERNET, FIREWIRE, serial, I2C, SPI, UART, or any othersuitable technology. The wireless interface 2514 may wirelessly networkthe interaction terminal to the personal terminal or other dataprocessing devices using, for example, 802.11-type technology, WIFI,BLUETOOTH, or other wireless technologies or combinations thereof.

The biometric interface 2516 may permit identifying the consumer byfingerprint, voice, eye, or other biometric data. The biometricinterface 2516 can be utilized to allow access to and allow certain menuand operational choices based in part on the identification, bybiometric methods, of the consumer. The general purpose input/outputinterface (GPIO) 2518 can be utilized to provide general purpose inputsand output.

FIG. 26 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a displayinterface 2600 of the interaction terminal. In embodiments, the displayinterface 2600 can include one or more of the following: a lightemitting diode (LED) display 2602, liquid crystal (LCD)/vacuumflorescent (VFD) display 2604, or an audio display 2606, among others.

In embodiments, the display interface 2600 can be used to inform a userwith the personal terminal of certain conditions or to express a socialaspect related to the user. Such social aspects may include signals ofmood, interest, relationship status, and/or other social aspects of theuser. Other conditions might include product available, sold out, hotproduct now, product ready, or other conditions.

FIG. 27 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a vendingequipment interface 2700 of the interaction terminal. As mentionedabove, the vending equipment interface 2700 may enable the interactionterminal to communicate with the vending equipment. Depending on theconfiguration of the vending equipment, the vending equipment interface2700 can be one of or a combination of the following: a multi-drop-bus(MDB) interface 2702, a data exchange interface (DEX) 2704, a vendingBDV interface 2706, a vending EXECUTIVE MECH interface 2708, a controlarea network (CAN) interface 2710, a universal serial bus (USB)interface 2712, a serial interface 2714, or a general purposeinput/output (GPIO) interface 2716, among others. The MDB interface 2702and the DEX interface 2704 may conform to vending industry standardssuch as National Automatic Merchandising Association MDB specification,EVS standards, the European Vending Association DEX specification, orother industry standards.

FIG. 28 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a host equipmentinterface 2800 of the interaction terminal. The interaction terminal canbe interconnected with or operationally related to the host equipmentvia the host equipment interface 2800. The host equipment may beequipment that can be monitored or controlled by the interactionterminal. The host equipment interface 2800 may be one of or acombination of the following: a credit card terminal interface 2802, apoint-of-sale (POS) equipment interface 2804, a wired or wireless localarea network interface 2806, a wired or wireless wide area network (WAN)interface 2810, a property management system interface 2808, a universalserial bus (USB) interface 2812, a serial interface 2814, or a generalpurpose input/output interface 2816, among others.

The interaction terminal can be interfaced to a credit card terminal byway of the credit card interface 2802. When the personal terminalinteracts with the interaction terminal, the interaction terminal cancommunicate with the credit card terminal by way of the credit cardterminal interface 2802. Thus, the credit card terminal may receive acredit card number stored on the personal terminal through the creditcard terminal interface 2802 of the interaction terminal. Such aconfiguration permits inexpensively adapting a preexistinginfrastructure of credit card terminals to accept a credit card numberstored on the personal terminal.

The interaction terminal can also be configured to communicate by way ofthe LAN interface 2806 with other data processing resources, such as theloyalty server. Thus, the interaction terminal can be configured to actas a gateway, such that the interaction terminal and the personalterminal can communicate with data processing resources through the LANinterface 2006.

The interaction terminal can be configured to communicate by way of awired or wireless WAN interface 2810 with other remote data processingresources, such as a loyalty server. Thus, the interaction terminal canbe configured to act as a gateway such that the interaction terminal andthe personal terminal can data communicate with remote data processingresources through the WAN interface 2810 of the interaction terminal.

The personal terminal can communicate with the interaction terminal, andthe interaction terminal can be configured to interface to a PMS systemby way of PMS interface 2808. In general, a property management system(PMS) is used in hotels, restaurants, and other establishments tomonitor, maintain, and charge guests for products and services. Onceinterfaced, the interaction terminal may process personal terminalinitiated transactions with the PMS system. Thus, the personal terminalcan cause transactions to be processed by the PMS system and as suchcharge purchases initiated by the personal terminal to hotel roomguests, and/or to other individuals and guests as may be required and/ordesired by the particular embodiment.

FIG. 29 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a power source2900 of the interaction terminal. The power source 2900 may be one ormore of the following: a solar power source 2902, a chemical powersource 2904, a battery power source 2906, or a MEMS power source 2928.Power may also be RF or optically induced through interaction with thepersonal terminal. Additionally the interactive terminal may obtainpower from the vending equipment, the host equipment, a separate powersupply, or from other external power sources.

FIG. 30 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a personalterminal 3002 interacting with an embodiment of an interaction terminal3004. The personal terminal 3002 is configured to operate in the passivemode. When the personal terminal 3002 is brought into proximity of theinteraction terminal 3004, the personal terminal 3002 and theinteraction terminal 3004 can communicate. Such communication caninclude the reading and/or writing of data to and/or from the personalterminal 3002. Because the personal terminal 3002 operates in thepassive mode, the personal terminal 3002 may not be in communicationwith other data processing resources, such as a loyalty server. Theinteraction terminal 3004 may be configured to interface with vending orhost equipment 3006 to effectuate transactions initiated by the personalterminal 3002.

FIG. 31 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a personalterminal 3102 interacting with an embodiment of an interaction terminal3104. As shown, the personal terminal 3102 operates in the passive mode.The personal terminal 3102 can be brought into proximity of theinteraction terminal 3104 and can communicate with the interactionterminal 3104. Such communication can include the reading and/or writingof data to and/or from the personal terminal 3102. In some cases, theinteraction terminal 3104 may be configured to interface with vending orhost equipment 3106. Because the personal terminal 3102 operates in thepassive mode, the interaction terminal 3104 may communicate with a dataprocessing resource 3110 and possibly a database 3112 to effectuatetransactions initiated by the personal terminal 3102. For example, thesecomponents may communicate by way of a network 3108, such as theinternet, a private network, a virtual private network (VPN), a localnetwork, or any other network.

FIGS. 32A and 32B are flow diagrams illustrating operation of a personalterminal 3202 in the active mode. The personal terminal 3202 mayinteract with an interaction terminal 3204 and also may interact with anintermediate device 3212, such as a personal computer. As shown in FIG.32A, the personal terminal 3202 can be brought into proximity of theinteraction terminal 3204, so that the personal terminal 3202 andinteraction terminal 3204 can communicate. Such communication caninclude the reading and/or writing of data to and/or from the personalterminal 3202 and/or interaction terminal 3204. The personal terminal3202 can collect informational data from the interaction terminal 3204such as loyalty data, location data, asset data, or other kinds of data.In addition, the personal terminal 3106 can transmit data to theinteraction terminal 3204, such as firmware upgrades, operationalparameter settings, loyalty data, or other kinds of data.

As shown in FIG. 32B, the personal terminal 3202 can then be broughtinto proximity of the intermediate device 3212, which may be a personalcomputer or other suitable data processing device. The data collected bythe personal terminal 3202 can then be communicated to a data processingresource 3216, such as a loyalty server, by way of the intermediatedevice 3212 and a network 3214. The data processing resource 3216 canprocess the data from the personal terminal 3202, and may store the datain a database 3218. The data processing resource 3216 can alsocommunicate, by way of the intermediate device 3212, to the personalterminal 3202, so that firmware, parameter settings, operational data,loyalty data, cashless payment related data, stored value data, consumerdata, or other data can be transmitted to the personal terminal 3202.Such data can be intended for use by the personal terminal 3202, or thedata may be intended for communication to an interaction terminal 3204.

A consumer loyalty program can be implemented by providing a consumerwith the personal terminal 3202 and by affixing a number of interactionterminals 3204 to equipment in retail outlets, such as vending machine3206, a cooler 3208, and a fountain dispenser 3210, among others. Whenthe consumer and therefore the personal terminal 3202, enter theproximity of the interaction terminal 3204, the two terminals 3202, 3204can communicate. Such communication can include the personal terminal3202 receiving data from the interaction terminal 3204. Such data caninclude, for example, loyalty data, location data, asset data, consumerdata, or other data. The consumer can collect loyalty data from a numberof interaction terminals 3204, each interaction terminal 3204 beinglocated on one of the pieces of equipment.

The consumer can then transport the personal terminal 3202 intoproximity of a personal computer or other intermediate device 3212, suchthat the personal terminal 3202 can communicate by way of the personalcomputer or other intermediate device 3212 with the data processingresource 3216. The data processing resource 3216 can be a loyalty serverdesigned to accept and process data from the personal terminal 3202 andadminister a loyalty account of the consumer. Consumer loyalty accountinformation or other data can be communicated to the personal terminal3202 of the consumer by way of the personal computer and/or otherintermediate device 3212. The consumer can then continue collectingloyalty rewards from the interaction terminals 3204, and may redeemloyalty awards (where applicable) by paying for products and/or serviceswith the loyalty award data stored on the personal terminal 3202.

In addition, data from the data processing resource 3216, such as theloyalty server and the database 3218 can be uploaded to the personalterminal 3202 as shown in FIG. 32B, and can be communicated to theinteraction terminal 3204 as shown in FIG. 32A.

FIG. 33A-B is a flow diagram illustrating active mode operation of apersonal terminal 3302. The personal terminal 3302 can be brought intoproximity of an interaction terminal 3304, and the personal terminal3302 and interaction device 3304 can data communicate. Suchcommunication can include the reading and/or writing of data to and/orfrom the interaction terminal 3304. The interaction terminal 3304 can beconfigured to interface with, monitor, or control vending or hostequipment 3306. Such monitoring and/or controlling can includeeffectuating a cashless transaction, vending a product or service, ormonitoring or controlling equipment cycles, among others.

The interaction terminal 3304 can be associated with one of a number ofdifferent pieces of equipment 3306, so that the consumer can use thepersonal terminal 3302 to interact with the interaction terminal 3304for loyalty purposes, or other purposes. In addition, in cases in whichthe interaction terminal 3304 is operationally related to the vending orhost equipment 3306, the consumer can use the personal terminal 3302, byway of the interaction terminal 3304, to communicate with the vending,or host equipment 3306. Thus, the consumer can effectuate cashlesspayment for products and/or services rendered by the vending or hostequipment 3306 using the personal terminal 3302.

A consumer loyalty cashless payment program can be implemented in suchcases. A number of interaction terminals 3304 can be affixed to a numberof different pieces of vending or host equipment 3306 located indifferent retail outlets. When the consumer brings the personal terminal3302 into proximity of one of the interaction terminals 3304, the twoterminals 3302, 3304 can communicate. For example, the personal terminal3302 may receive loyalty data, or may send data to effectuate a vendcycle. The consumer can collect loyalty data and pay for products orservices obtained from the associated vending or host equipment 3306.

The consumer can then transport the personal terminal 3302 intoproximity of a personal computer or other intermediate device 3308 suchthat the personal terminal 3202 can communicate, by way of the personalcomputer or other intermediate device 3308, with the data processingresource 3312. The data processing resource 3312 can be a loyalty orcashless payment server designed to accept and process data from one ormore personal terminals 3302 and administer the loyalty and cashlessaccounts of one or more consumers. The data processing resource 3312 maycommunicate with a database 3314. As part of the communication update,consumer loyalty data, cashless payment data, account data, or otherdata can be communicated to the personal terminal 3302 by way of thepersonal computer or other intermediate device 3308. The consumer canthen continue collecting loyalty awards and effectuating cashlesstransactions at the vending or host equipment 3206, by way personalterminal 3302 communicating with the interaction terminal 3304 and theinteraction terminal 3304 communicating with the vending or hostequipment 3206.

FIG. 34 is a flow diagram illustrating active mode operation of apersonal terminal 3402. The personal terminal 3402 can be brought intoproximity of an interaction terminal 3404 and can communicate with theinteraction terminal 3404. Such communication can include the readingand/or writing of data to and/or from the interaction terminal 3404. Theinteraction terminal 3404 may interface with vending or host equipment3406. The personal terminal 3402 also can be configured to communicatewith other data processing resources 3408 and databases 3410 by way of anetwork 3412 to effectuate loyalty, cashless, or other transactionsinitiated by the personal terminal 3402.

FIG. 35 is a flow diagram illustrating active mode operation of apersonal terminal 3502. The personal terminal is operationally coupledto a wireless device 3508. The personal terminal 3502 can be broughtinto proximity of an interaction terminal 3504, so that the personalterminal 3502 and the interaction device 3504 can communicate. Suchcommunication can include the reading and/or writing of data to and/orfrom the interaction terminal 3504. The interaction terminal 3504 mayinterface with vending or host equipment 3506. In addition, the personalterminal 3502 can be configured to communicate with the wireless device3508. Such communication between the personal terminal 3502 and thewireless device 3508 can be by way of wired or wireless technologies.Furthermore, the personal terminal 3502, by way of the wireless device3508, can communicate with a data processing resource 3512, such as aloyalty server, and a database 3514. Such communication may occur by wayof a network 3510, such as the internet. Thus, loyalty, cashless, orother transactions initiated by the personal terminal 3502 may becompleted.

FIG. 36 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 3600 of performing atransaction using a personal terminal. The personal terminal may bebrought into communication proximity of an interaction terminal,initiating a transaction between the two terminals. The personalterminal may operate in the active mode, such that the personal terminalcan communicate with a data processing resource. The method 3600 beginsin block 3602. In block 3602, an interaction with the interactionterminal is initiated. For example, the consumer with the personalterminal may approach the interaction terminal. The method 3600 thenmoves to block 3604. In block 3604, the personal terminal and theinteraction terminal communicate. The method 3600 then moves to block3606. In block 3606, the personal terminal obtains data from theinteraction terminal. The method then moves to block 3608. In block3608, the personal terminal communicates with a data processingresource, such as a loyalty server. The method 3600 then moves to block3610.

In block 3610, the personal terminal communicates with the interactionterminal to activate the vending or host equipment. The method 3600 thenmoves to block 3612. In block 3612, the transaction is completed. Forexample, the equipment may deliver the product or service, and resultdata may be communicated from the equipment through the interactionterminal to the personal terminal. The result data may include loyaltydata, among others. The method 3600 then moves to block 3614. In block3614 the personal terminal communicates with the data processingresource. For example, the personal terminal may communicate resultdata, such as loyalty data, transaction data, or other data. The method3600 then ends.

FIG. 37 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 3700 of using a personalterminal to obtain a loyalty reward and to store the loyalty reward in adata processing resource, such as a loyalty server. The personalterminal can be used to interact with a number of interaction terminals.Each interaction terminal may be considered “a touch point of loyalty,”and the user may receive a loyalty reward for interacting with theinteraction terminal. The loyalty reward may be uploaded to a dataprocessing resource that administers a loyalty program. The dataprocessing resource can process the loyalty reward and can communicatedata back to the personal terminal. Such processing can includecrediting the a loyalty account of the consumer based at least in parton the loyalty reward. The data sent from the data processing resourceto the personal terminal can include loyalty data, credit data, consumerdata, or other data. The data may enable the consumer to make a purchaseor receive discounts using the loyalty reward or other account datastored on the personal terminal, or to otherwise receive loyaltyrewards. The consumer may obtain loyalty rewards for interacting withthe touch point of loyalty site, regardless of whether the vending orhost equipment is being activated. Thus, consumer does not have topurchase products or services to obtain the loyalty reward.

The method 3700 begins in block 3702. In block 3702, an interaction withthe interaction terminal is initiated. For example, the consumer withthe personal terminal may approach the interaction terminal. The method3700 then moves to block 3704. In block 3704, the personal terminal andinteraction terminal communicate. The method 3700 then moves to block3706. In block 3706, a benefit, such as a loyalty reward, is provided tothe user for initiating the transaction with the interaction terminal.The method 3700 then moves to block 3708. In block 3708, the personalterminal interfaces with an intermediate device. The method 3700 thenmoves to block 3710. In block 3710, the personal terminal communicateswith the data processing resource. Specifically, the personal terminalmay communicate with the data processing resource by way of theintermediate device. Alternatively, the personal terminal may directlycommunicate with the data processing device, in which case block 3708may be omitted. The loyalty data may be communicated from the personalterminal to the data processing resource, and possibly a database. Themethod then moves to block 3712. In block 3712, the data processingresource updates a loyalty account of the consumer. The method 3700 thenmoves to block 3714. In block 3714, the data processing resourcecommunicates data to the personal terminal. The data may be intended foreither the personal terminal, the interaction terminal, or a number ofinteraction terminals. For example, loyalty account information,consumer data, touch point of loyalty configurations, or other data maybe transmitted to the personal terminal. In some cases, such data may beintended for a specific interaction terminal or a number of interactionterminals. The personal terminal can carry such data until the consumerreturns to the desired interaction terminal, at which point the datareceived from the data processing resource may be communicated to theinteraction terminal. The method 3700 then ends.

FIG. 38 is a block diagram of a method 3800 of using a personal terminalto pay for products. A consumer can establish communication between thepersonal terminal and an interaction terminal. The interaction terminalcan be operationally related to vending or host equipment, such that theconsumer can elect to pay for the product from the vending or hostequipment by way of a stored value balance. The stored value balance canreside on the personal terminal or may be stored on a data processingresource that is accessible to the personal terminal, such as a loyaltyserver.

The personal terminal can initiate a vending cycle when the personalterminal is in proximity of an interaction terminal. The interactionterminal can monitor and control the vending or host equipment. Once avend cycle has been initiated, the consumer can select a product orservice. Data can be communicated from the interaction terminal to thepersonal terminal, such as a selection of the consumer, or other loyaltyor sale data.

The personal terminal, or the data processing resource accessible by thepersonal, can determine whether the sale should be authorized andwhether the price should be adjusted. The personal terminal, or the dataprocessing resource accessible by the personal terminal, may includerules for determining whether the purchase is allowable. For example,the rules may indicate the consumer can purchase certain products butnot others, or the rules may indicate the consumer may only make certainpurchases at certain times. Other rules are also possible.

The rules can be used to prevent certain personal terminals from beingused to purchase certain foods and beverages at certain times of theday. Such rules may be determined by the consumer or by another. Forexample, the personal terminal may be associated with a student, and therules may be set by a parent or guardian of the student, anadministrator of a school attended by the student, or by others.

The vending or host equipment may be capable of vending all types andkinds of food all day, regulated only by the rules stored on thepersonal terminal or the data processing resource, instead of preventingthe vending or host equipment from dispensing certain products for fixedperiods of time everyday, as is the case now in many locations such asschools.

Once the transaction is authorized the personal terminal, or the dataprocessing resource accessible by way of the personal terminal, candetermine the sale price for the product or service. Different consumersmay qualify for different pricing. In addition, promotions can beextended to certain consumers, and prices can be changed throughout theday. Other configurations are also possible.

The transaction can be concluded when the consumer receives the productor service and data pertaining to the transaction is communicated to thepersonal terminal or the data processing resource. The method 3800begins in block 3802.

In block 3802, a transaction is initiated with an interaction terminal.The consumer having the personal terminal may approach the interactionterminal to initiate the transaction. The method 3800 then moves toblock 3804. In block 3804, the personal terminal and the interactionterminal communicate. The method 3800 then moves to block 3806. In block3806, a stored value is transmitted from the personal terminal, or fromthe data processing resource through the personal terminal, to theinteraction terminal. The method then moves to block 3608. In block3608, a selection of the consumer is received by the vending or hostequipment. The method 3800 then moves to block 3810. In block 3810, theselection of the consumer is transmitted from the vending or hostequipment to the personal terminal, or the data processing resource byway of the personal terminal, so that the transaction may be approved ordenied. For example, the transaction may be approved or denied based onhow the product or service is to be paid for, such as by a deductionfrom the stored value, an extension of credit, or some other form ofpayment. The method 3800 then moves to block 3812.

In block 3812, a determination is made as to whether the consumer isallowed to purchase the selected product or service at the current time.If the consumer is allowed to purchase the product or service, themethod moves to block 3818. If not allowed to purchase the product, themethod moves to block 3814.

In block 3814, a denial is communicated to the interaction terminal. Themethod 3800 then moves to block 3816. In block 3816, the consumer isinformed that the transaction is denied, meaning the product or serviceis not allowed to be vended at this time. The method 3800 then returnsto block 3808, so that the consumer can enter another selection.

In block 3818 a determination is made as to whether a purchase priceshould be adjusted. If the transaction is a promotional sale or anadjusted price sale, the method 3800 moves to block 3820. If thetransaction is not a promotional sale or an adjusted price sale, themethod 3800 moves to block 3822.

In block 3820 the purchase price of the selection is changed. The method3800 then moves to block 3822. In block 3822, the purchase price of theselection is charged to the consumer. Decisions to deduct from storedvalue, extend credit, and/or otherwise determine how the products orservices are to be paid for by the consumer or others can be determined.The method 3800 then moves to block 3824. In block 3824, result data iscommunicated to the interaction terminal. The result data may includevend approved, sales price, or other sales data. The vending or hostequipment completes the transaction, the consumer receives the purchasedproduct or service, and the method 3800 ends.

FIG. 39 is a block diagram of a method 3900 of using a personal terminalto purchase a product or service, the personal terminal having a storedvalue balance and an extended credit feature. When the consumer selectsa product or service, a determination is made as to whether the storedvalue balance is sufficient to purchase the selection. Though the storedvalue balance may be sufficient for the purchase, depleting the storedvalue balance indirectly prevents the consumer from making additionalpurchases using the stored value balance. Thus, credit may be extendedto the consumer, as a way of preserving the stored value balance, sothat the consumer can purchase additional products or services.

Before credit is extended, a determination is made as to whether such anaction is appropriate. Past purchase experience, the configuration ofthe personal terminal and other criteria can be considered. The extendedcredit may be repaid from an account of the consumer when the personalterminal next communicates with the data processing resource, such asthe loyalty server. Thus, the account of the consumer can be charged toresolve the credit, and the stored value balance can be replenished orotherwise adjusted. The method 3900 begins in block 3902.

In block 3902 a determination is made as to whether credit can beextended to the consumer for the selection of the transaction. If theselection can be paid for by extending credit, the method 3900 moves toblock 3904. If the selection cannot be paid for by extending credit, themethod 3900 moves to block 3906.

In block 3904, credit is extended to the consumer. Because the selectedproduct or service is purchased with the extended credit, the storedvalue balance is preserved, allowing a subsequent purchase by theconsumer using the stored value. The method then moves to block 3908. Inblock 3908, the transaction is authorized by the personal terminal orthe data processing resource, and the authorization is sent to theinteraction terminal. The method 3900 then moves to block 3910.

In block 3910, an account of the consumer is updated. For example, theaccount may be located on the data processing resource, and the accountmay be updated when the personal terminal next communicates with thedata processing resource. The extended credit may be paid from theaccount, adjustments to the stored value balance may be made, andsettings or criteria for extending credit may be updated. The method3900 then ends.

Referring back to block 3902, if credit is not extended to the consumer,the method 3900 moves to block 3906. In block 3906, a determination ismade as to whether the purchase price of the selection is greater thanthe stored value balance associated with the personal terminal. If thepurchase price is greater than the stored value balance, the method 3900moves to block 3912. If the purchase price is not greater than thestored value balance, the method 3900 moves to block 3914. In block3912, the stored value balance is updated to reflect the purchase of theproduct or service. For example, the purchase price of the selection maybe deducted from the stored value balance, leaving a relatively smallerstored value balance remaining on the personal terminal. The method 3900then moves to block 3910, where the account of the consumer is updated.In block 3914, the transaction is denied. The denial is communicated tothe interaction terminal. The method 3900 then ends.

FIG. 40 is a flow diagram of a method 4000 of lighting a personalterminal to a predefined color. The method 4000 may light the personalterminal to the predefined color regardless of the ambient lightingconditions or the color of the material used to form the personalterminal. A light sensor may measure the spectral qualities of ambientlight passing through the material and may determine a lightingadjustment factor. A light source may be operated at least in part basedon the lighting adjustment factor, so that the predefined color isproduced through the material.

The predefined color may be a color associated with a particularproduct, brand, or entity. The predefined color may also signify socialor emotional aspects of the consumer, or the predefined color may havepromotional, operational, or informational purposes. For example, thepersonal terminal may become one color for men and another for women. Inaddition, the personal terminal may change color to indicate arelationship status of the consumer, such as single or married. Thepersonal terminal may also use color to indicate moods of the consumer,such as happy or sad. Other color indications are possible, such as theastrological sign of the consumer. In some cases, the consumer maychange the illuminated color of the personal terminal, such as toreflect the wants, needs, mood, feelings, social status, or desires ofthe consumer.

The method 4000 begins in block 4002. In block 4002, the ambient lightnear the light source is received by the light sensor. The method 4000then moves to block 4004. In block 4004, a spectral analysis isperformed on the ambient light received by the light sensor. The method4000 then moves to block 4006. In block 4006, a lighting adjustmentfactor is determined. The lighting adjustment factor may be determinedbased at least in part on the spectral analysis of the ambient lightreceived by the light sensor. The lighting adjustment factor mayindicate the amount of red, green, and blue to be associated with thelight from the light source, such that light of the predefined color isproduced when light from the light source combines with ambient lightpassing through the personal terminal. The method 4000 then moves toblock 4008. In block 4008, the light source is adjusted to produce thepredefined color based on the lighting adjustment factor determined inblock 4006. The method 4000 then ends. The method 4000 enables lightinga personal terminal made from a particular material to a predefinedcolor in varying environmental lighting conditions. Such predefinedcolor variations enable the personal terminal to match company trademarkcolors, as well as other colors.

FIG. 41 is a block diagram of a method 4100 of using touch points ofloyalty reward a consumer. The method 4100 may also enhance trademarkprominence and increase immediate consumption sales across a portfolioof products. The consumer may demonstrate trademark loyalty withoutmaking a purchase. Such trademark loyalty can be rewarded by providing aloyalty reward in response to the personal terminal communicating withthe interaction terminal. The loyalty reward can then be uploaded to adata processing resource, such as a loyalty server, which may filter theloyalty reward to minimize abuses and fraudulent activities.

Loyalty rewards can be accrued, and when a suitable balance has accrued,the consumer may redeem the loyalty rewards. The loyalty rewards can beredeemed online for products and services. In addition, the loyaltyrewards can also be carried in the personal terminal and can be redeemedat the vending or host equipment, in embodiments in which theinteraction terminal is operationally related to the vending or hostequipment. Furthermore, additional loyalty rewards or promotionalrewards can be given to the consumer.

The interaction terminal can be affixed on any vending or hostequipment. Additionally, interaction terminals can be located in avariety of locations where an entity's portfolios of products are sold.The consumer may recognize the interaction terminal and may be drawn toit to obtain a loyalty reward, demonstrating trademark loyalty. Oncethere, the consumer may discover the products that the entity is sellingand in a demonstration of product loyalty may choose to purchase some ofthe products.

Trademark loyalty first rewards the consumer and then presents thecompany's products to the consumer. In certain cases the consumer maynot be aware that the product is in the company's portfolio of productsand as such the interaction terminal serves as a way in which to informthe consumer about the product. In another case, the consumer may beaware that the company makes the product but has never tried the productand today this consumer decides to try the product. In another case, theconsumer might be aware that the company makes the product but was notaware that the product was sold in this location. In another case, theconsumer may be outside the store (such as a gas station) and having theknowledge that the interaction terminal is in the store decides to enterthe store after pumping gas to pick up a loyalty reward. In thisexample, the incentive of the loyalty reward gets the consumer to enterthe store. In another case, the consumer may have loyalty rewards storedon the personal terminal and may decide to redeem the loyalty rewardsfor a free product. Thus, the personal terminal and the interactionterminal operate together to effectuate a loyalty program that may befocused on trademark loyalty and may not require the consumer topurchase anything to obtain a loyalty reward by approaching theinteraction terminal.

Furthermore, additional loyalty rewards or promotional awards can begiven to the consumer when the consumer demonstrates trademark loyaltyand product loyalty. For example, when a consumer acquires a loyaltyreward from an interaction terminal without making a purchase, theconsumer demonstrates trademark loyalty. When the consumer purchases aproduct, the consumer demonstrates product loyalty. When the consumerdemonstrates both trademark loyalty and product loyalty, the consumermay receive an additional reward. The personal terminal can beresponsible for recording both trademark loyalty and product loyaltyactivities. Alternatively, a combination of data processing devices canrecord trademark loyalty and product loyalty, and associate suchactivity with the consumer and/or the personal terminal. The methodbegins in block 4100 of FIG. 41.

In block 4102, a loyalty reward is provided to the consumer for placinga personal terminal in proximity of an interaction terminal. Theconsumer demonstrates trademark loyalty by using the personal terminalto obtain loyalty rewards from a number of interaction terminals.Purchase may not be required. The interaction terminals are located onvending or host equipment, and in other locations where the company'sportfolios of products are available. The method 4100 then moves toblock 4104.

In block 4104, the loyalty reward is uploaded to a data processingresource. The method 4100 then moves to block 4106. In block 4106, theloyalty reward is filtered to limit the accrual of loyalty rewards to apredefined rate. Therefore, the consumer may obtain loyalty rewards fromthe interaction terminal at a rate that is no faster than the predefinedrate. Such a predefined rate can be daily, although any rate ispossible. Such a configuration reduces repeated visits to the samevending or host equipment too frequently. The method 4100 then moves toblock 4108.

In block 4108, additional rewards or promotional offers are provided tothe consumer for demonstrating trademark loyalty and product loyalty.When it is determined that a consumer has demonstrated both trademarkloyalty and product loyalty, an additional reward can optionally beoffered to the consumer. The method 4100 then moves to block 4110.

In block 4110, a request is received to redeem the loyalty reward. Forexample, the consumer can trade at least a portion of the accruedloyalty reward balance for products or services online, or for productsor services available from the vending or host equipment, in cases inwhich the vending or host equipment is operationally related to theinteraction terminal. In block 4112, it is determined whether therequest can be satisfied from the accrued loyalty reward balance. Themethod 4100 ends.

FIG. 42 is a block diagram of a method 4200 of using touch points ofloyalty to reward consumers. The method 4200 may also enhance trademarkprominence and increase immediate consumption sales across a portfolioof products. The method 4200 differs from the method 4100 of FIG. 41 inthat a data processing resource is not provided. A consumer maydemonstrate trademark loyalty without making a purchase. Such loyalty onthe part of the consumer can be rewarded by allowing the personalterminal to acquire a loyalty reward for communicating with aninteraction terminal. The loyalty reward, however, may be filtered atthe personal terminal to minimize abuses and fraudulent activities. Theloyalty reward can be added to an accrued loyalty reward balance, andwhen an appropriate balance has been earned, the consumer can be allowedto redeem the rewards. The loyalty rewards can be redeemed online forproducts or services, or the loyalty rewards can be redeemed at thevending or host equipment, if the interaction terminal is operationallyrelated to the vending or host equipment.

Additional loyalty rewards or promotional awards may be given to theconsumer when the consumer demonstrates trademark loyalty and productloyalty. When the consumer acquires a loyalty reward, the consumerdemonstrates trademark loyalty. When the consumer purchases a product,the consumer demonstrates product loyalty. When the consumerdemonstrates both trademark loyalty and product loyalty, the consumermay receive an additional loyalty reward. The personal terminal may beresponsible for recording both trademark loyalty and product loyaltyactivities. Alternatively, a combination of data processing devices canrecord trademark loyalty and product loyalty and associate such activitywith the consumer or the personal terminal. The method 4200 begins inblock 4202.

In block 4202, a loyalty reward is provided to the consumer for placinga personal terminal in proximity of the interaction terminal. Theconsumer collects, by way of personal terminal, loyalty rewards from anumber of interaction terminals. Purchase may not be required. Theinteraction terminals are affixed on vending or host equipment and inother locations where company's portfolios of products are available.The method 4200 then moves to block 4204.

In block 4204, the loyalty reward is filtered to limit the accrual ofloyalty rewards to a predefined rate. Therefore, the consumer gains abenefit from the interaction terminal at a rate that is no faster thanthe predefined rate. Such a predefined rate can be daily, although anyrate is possible. Such a configuration reduces repeat visits to the samevending or host equipment too frequently. The method 4200 then moves toblock 4206.

In block 4206, additional rewards or promotional offers are provided tothe consumer for demonstrating trademark loyalty and product loyalty.When it is determined that a consumer has demonstrated both trademarkloyalty and product loyalty, an additional reward can optionally beoffered to the consumer. The method 4200 then moves to block 4208.

In block 4208, a request is received to redeem the loyalty reward. Forexample, the consumer can trade at least a portion of the accruedloyalty reward balance for products or services online, or for productsor services available from the vending or host equipment. The method4200 then moves to block 4210. In block 4210, it is determined whetherthe request can be satisfied from the accrued loyalty reward balance.The method 4200 then ends.

The systems and methods described above can be implemented in software,firmware, hardware or any combination thereof. One or more componentscan be included in an article of manufacture having a computer readablemedium. The computer readable medium may have embodied therein acomputer readable program.

While particular embodiments of have been disclosed in detail in theforegoing description and figures for purposes of example, those skilledin the art will understand that variations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, blocksof certain figures may be performed in any order, and certain blocks maybe added, deleted, or modified. All such variations and modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure,as protected by the following claims.

The claimed invention is:
 1. A system for implementing a loyaltyprogram, the system comprising: a personal terminal comprising a housingsized and shaped to be carried by a user; a first interaction terminalphysically attached to a first product, the first interaction terminaland the personal terminal establishing a communication when the personalterminal is transported within physical proximity of the firstinteraction terminal; a second interaction terminal physically attachedto a second product, the second interaction terminal and the personalterminal establishing a communication when the personal terminal istransported within physical proximity of the second interactionterminal; and a loyalty module that provides a benefit to the user inresponse to the communication between the personal terminal and one ofthe second and first interaction terminals, the benefit provided toreward the user for transporting the personal terminal within physicalproximity of one of the first and second products without regard towhether the user purchases the product.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the personal terminal comprises a radio-frequency identification(RFID) reader device and one of the first and second interactionterminals comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag device.3. The system of claim 1, wherein the personal terminal communicateswith one of the first and second interaction terminals using infraredsignals.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the first and secondproducts is a beverage.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the benefitcomprises at least one of the following: a loyalty point, a monetaryvalue, and a credit toward at least a portion of the product or aservice.
 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a loyalty server,wherein: the loyalty server comprises an account associated with theuser; and the loyalty module stores an indication of the benefit in theaccount of the user.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the loyaltyserver further comprises a user interface, the user interface receivingan instruction to redeem the benefit from the user.
 8. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the personal terminal communicates with the loyaltyserver over a network.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the loyaltymodule varies the benefit based on a pre-defined criteria, thepre-defined criteria being at least one of the following: time,location, product, brand, frequency, quantity, and price.
 10. A systemfor implementing a loyalty program, the system comprising: a personalterminal comprising a housing sized and shaped to be carried by a user;an first interaction terminal physically attached to or operationallyintegrated with a first product device, the first product deviceproviding a product or service, the first interaction terminal and thepersonal terminal establishing a communication when the personalterminal is transported within physical proximity of the firstinteraction terminal; an second interaction terminal physically attachedto or operationally integrated with a second product device, the secondproduct device providing a product or service, the second interactionterminal and the personal terminal establishing a communication when thepersonal terminal is transported within physical proximity of the secondinteraction terminal; and a loyalty module that provides a benefit tothe user in response to the communication between the personal terminaland one of the first and second interaction terminals, the benefitprovided to reward the user for transporting the personal terminalwithin physical proximity of one of the first and second product deviceswithout regard to whether one of the first and second product devicesfacilitated access to one of the first and second products or services.11. The system of claim 10, wherein one of the first and second productdevices that provides one of the first and second products or servicescomprises one of the following: a vending machine, a product dispenser,a fountain machine, and a cooler.
 12. The system of claim 10, whereinthe loyalty module authorizes a transaction at one of the first andsecond, product devices.
 13. A system for implementing a loyaltyprogram, the system comprising: a personal terminal comprising a housingsized and shaped to be carried by a user; an first interaction terminalphysically attached to or operationally integrated with a firsttransaction device, the first transaction device receiving payment for aproduct or service, the first interaction terminal and the personalterminal establishing a communication when the personal terminal istransported within physical proximity of the first interaction terminal;an second interaction terminal physically attached to or operationallyintegrated with a second transaction device, the second transactiondevice receiving payment for a product or service, the secondinteraction terminal and the personal terminal establishing acommunication when the personal terminal is transported within physicalproximity of the second interaction terminal; and a loyalty module thatprovides a benefit to the user in response to the communication betweenthe personal terminal and one of the first and second interactionterminals, the benefit provided to reward the user for transporting thepersonal terminal within physical proximity of one of the first andsecond transaction devices without regard to whether one of the firstand second transaction devices received payment for the product orservice.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein one of the first and secondtransaction devices comprises one of the following: a vending machine,cash register, a credit card machine, a debit card machine, a cashacceptance device, a cash transaction device, a cashless transactiondevice, an automatic teller machine, a point-of-sale terminal, acomputer system, a website, and a property management system.
 15. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the loyalty module transmits a paymentinstruction to one of the first and second transaction devices.
 16. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the payment instruction comprises at leastone of the following: a debit from an accrued loyalty reward balance, adebit from a pre-paid cash balance, a credit card number, and a debitcard number.
 17. A system for providing a benefit to a user, the systemcomprising: a first interaction terminal physically mounted to a firstproduct device; a second interaction terminal operationally integratedwith a second product device; a personal terminal comprising a housingsized and shaped to be carried by the user, the personal terminal andthe first interaction terminal establishing a first communication whenin physical proximity of each other, and the personal terminal and thesecond interaction terminal establishing a second communication when inphysical proximity of each other; and a loyalty module that provides abenefit to the user, the loyalty module providing the benefit inresponse to one of the first and second communications.
 18. The systemof claim 17, wherein the loyalty module transmits a payment instructionto the second device via the second interaction terminal.
 19. The systemof claim 17, further comprising a loyalty server, wherein: the loyaltyserver comprises an account associated with the user; and the loyaltymodule stores an indication of the benefit in the account of the user.20. The system of claim 17, wherein the loyalty server further comprisesa user interface, the user interface receiving an instruction to redeemthe benefit from the user.